OXYGEN CONTROLLED HYDROGEL TO UNCOVER CELLULAR RESPONSE TO RAPID HYPOXIA
Abstract
Our current understanding of how cells morph into a functional 3-dimensional (3D) sensing tissue is lacking. This is a major limitation hindering the development of controllable biological sensing systems and technologies. Our overreaching goal is to understand how cells sense physicochemical insults and respond, leading to tissue adaptation, recovery or deteriorating. In this proposal, we will focus on rapid changes in the partial pressure of oxygen (a.k.a., oxygen tension) that lead to gradients ranging from low to moderate to high O2 tension. Using a novel hydrogel system, we will study how endothelial cells (ECs), the inner layer on blood vessels, sense variation in the partial pressure of O2, resulting in 3D hypoxic gradient. We will generate layered-hydrogel system that will expose ECs to severe hypoxia (<2% O2), moderate hypoxia (2-6% O2) and non-hypoxia (>7.5% O2). This system will be the first to enable analysis of cellular responses to rapid changes in 3D O2 gradient in a highly precise manner. We will study how ECs respond and sense O2 gradients. The studies proposed here will form the foundations for studies delineating the mechanism by which tissues are able to sense rapid changes in their surrounding environment, ultimately leading to the development of new sensing technologies and enhancing human performances.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Aug 12, 2021
- Source ID
- FA95502010356
Entities
People
- Sharon Gerecht
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- Johns Hopkins University
- United States Air Force