In vitro models of cellular function and disease using microfluidic technologies
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In vitro models of cellular function and disease using microfluidic technologies
Wed, 03/04/2019 - 13:30 to 14:30
Location:
Speaker:
Michele Zagono
Affiliation:
University of Strathclyde
Synopsis:
Centre for Microsystems and Photonics, EEE Dept., University of Strathclyde, UK
Abstract: Over the last 20 years, an increasing number of microfluidic technologies have been developed for cell culture and biological sample manipulation, providing bespoke means to improve the control and implementation of conventional biological & diagnostic analytical procedures in a miniaturised and automatable format. Particularly, miniaturised in vitro procedures enable greater control over the formation of simplified cellular networks to be achieved, mimicking in vivo conditions and minimising the use of animal models, as well as providing enhanced capabilities to test cell responses to chemical stimuli in a large-throughput format whilst minimising cell sample quantities.
The talk will focus on a range of developed microfluidic bioassays that allow cell functionality and compound screening to be studied using in vitro models of biological systems and disease. Examples will be shown based on: stem cells & primary cells neuronal network patterning and culture to study their functional synaptic connectivity; 3D cell culture, formation and characterisation of multicellular spheroids using cancer patient biopsies; characterisation of ion channel function in artificial lipid bilayers. All together, these examples highlight the range of possibilities available through the development of multidisciplinary research based on microfluidics.
Biography:
Dr Michele Zagnoni (MZ) is a Senior Lecturer in the Electronic and Electrical Engineering dept. at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow. MZ leads a multidisciplinary research group focused on the development of healthcare technologies for fundamental biological investigations, compound screening, in vitro diagnostics and treatment of disease. The activities cover a broad range of multidisciplinary topics based on the application of microfluidic, lab-on-a-chip and organ-on-a-chip technologies for:
a) Drug screening and personalised medicine for oncology and central nervous system disorders;
b) The development of in vitro human organ-on-a-chip models;
c) The development of artificial cell membranes and nanomaterial testing;
d) The study of single-cell targeted nanomedicine.
MZ has 14 years interdisciplinary research expertise in microfabrication of microfluidic devices, lab-on-a-chip techniques, single-cell and cell network analysis on chip and miniaturised bioassay development. Dr Zagnoni has co-authored 80+ peer-reviewed papers and conference proceedings (>1500 citations, h-index = 22) including 4 articles featured on journal covers, as well as 3 patent applications.
Recently, MZe became the Chief Scientific Officer of ScreenIn3D, a start-up company that provides drug screening services based on microfluidics and 3D cell culture.