Musculoskeletal and Cardiovascular Tissue Engineering
Supervised by Dr. George Truskey
>500 hours
Fall 2022-Spring 2024
Description: Throughout both semesters of my junior year, I completed an independent study in which I attempted to induce physiologically relevant glucose uptake properties in human skeletal muscle microphysiological systems (myobundles). In properly functioning skeletal muscle tissue, insulin exposure induces translocation of GLUT4, a glucose transporter, to the cell surface. This process is required for sufficient nutrient uptake in tissues after feeding. Existing skeletal muscle models display insulin-mediated glucose uptake values lower than those of living tissues.
We hypothesized that physiological GLUT4 activity could be induced by removing serum from media and altering the concentration and duration of insulin exposure at the end of culture.
At the start of my senior year, I began contributing to the projects of a PhD student in the lab. In one, we are attempting to use acoustic transducers to induce cellular alignment in myobundles. In another, we are attempting to create a simplified model of the interface between tissue engineered blood vessels and skeletal muscle. Both remain active projects.
I am also currently working on an independent project that uses machine learning to automate the microscopic assessment of skeletal muscle fiber health.
GCS Focus Connection: My work was centered around a desire to understand the processes by which we can make engineered tissue. Two important applications of such models are personalized testing of therapeutics and, in the future, personalized regenerative medicine. The NAE extensively expresses the importance of personalized medicine and drug development in their statement regarding engineering better medicines. Beyond this, these projects helped me develop skills related to research, such as experimental design, scientific reasoning, and scientific communication.
