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Cells adopt a variety of different phenotypes when exposed to polymeric substrates of different chemistries and mechanical properties. Recent studies have highlighted the importance of the nature and geometry and distribution of the cytoskeletal actin filament bundles that transmit the traction forces which cells express during spreading against their substrates. Core P’s goal is to elucidate and understand these cytoskeletal changes during cell-material interaction using high-content imaging with multiphoton microscopy. Professor Moghe and colleagues have proposed and investigated the premise that cytoskeletal descriptors of cells could be used to discern minute differences in cell phenotype that occur on polymeric substrates with incremental changes in chemistry (composition, charge, etc.). By transfecting GFP-fusion constructs with actin and paxilin in SaOS2 model cells, and using a library of tyrosine-derived polycarbonates with fine variations in poly(ethylene glycol) and charge, Moghe’s team detected quantifiable differences in various morphometric descriptors of actin. The quantitative determination of cellular morphology permits the identification of differences not evident to the eye. Once these morphological differences are recognized, it is possible to both distinguish cell populations cultured on different polymer surfaces and to correlate different morphological descriptors with multiple cellular functions. Core P works in close collaboration with Cores S, M and H which provide various biomaterials, reporter-modified cells and gradient scaffolds respectively. Core P aims to:
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