Thesis Project Form
Title (tentative): Mechanical characterization of tissue biopsies and scaffolds toward an in vitro 3D model of solid tumors| Thesis advisor(s): Raiteri Roberto | E-mail: |
| Address: Via Opera pia 11a 16145 Genova | Phone: (+39) 010 33 52762 |
Description
Motivation and application domain
Sarcoids are one of the most common tumors found in horses. Sarcoids are skin tumors that can develop anywhere on the horse’s body. They are relatively benign masses under most circumstances unless they are irritated, in which case they can become more invasive and grow quickly (aggressive sarcoid). Bovine papillomavirus are associated with the pathogenesis of sarcoid disease and thus equine tumors are an unvaluable model in comparative oncology. In order to develop personalized therapies and to apply the 3R principles in research, there is the need of developing advanced in vitro tissue models.
Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is capable to measure surface topography and mechanical properties of soft biological tissues with extremely high spatial resolution and sensitivity. Here we want to apply this technique to evaluate sarcoid viscoelasticity in order to develop hydrogels and scaffolds with similar mechanical properties to develop a representative 3D advanced in vitro model of the tumoral tissue
Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is capable to measure surface topography and mechanical properties of soft biological tissues with extremely high spatial resolution and sensitivity. Here we want to apply this technique to evaluate sarcoid viscoelasticity in order to develop hydrogels and scaffolds with similar mechanical properties to develop a representative 3D advanced in vitro model of the tumoral tissue
General objectives and main activities
The main objective of this thesis work is to employ atomic force microscopy to measure mechanical properties (i.e. complex elastic modulus) of fresh tissue biopsies in order to drive the design and fabrication of hydrogels able to recapitulate the main characteristics of the native tissue.
The activity includes i) establishing a measurement procedure for the mechanical characterization of both tissue samples and hydrogels, based on a state of art atomic force microscope (https://www.bruker.com/en/products-and-solutions/microscopes/bioafm/jpk-nanowizard-4-xp-bioscience.html); ii) to fabricate collagen based hydrogels iii) to perform experiments, analyse the data and compare the results to feedback in the hydrogel/scaffold fabrication process
Such activities will be conducted on close collaboration with researchers of the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Pemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta who will provide samples and support the activity.
The activity includes i) establishing a measurement procedure for the mechanical characterization of both tissue samples and hydrogels, based on a state of art atomic force microscope (https://www.bruker.com/en/products-and-solutions/microscopes/bioafm/jpk-nanowizard-4-xp-bioscience.html); ii) to fabricate collagen based hydrogels iii) to perform experiments, analyse the data and compare the results to feedback in the hydrogel/scaffold fabrication process
Such activities will be conducted on close collaboration with researchers of the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Pemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta who will provide samples and support the activity.
Training Objectives (technical/analytical tools, experimental methodologies)
The student will learn:
- how to design, organize, and conduct experiments, including sample preparation and data evaluation
- how to design and fabricate hydrogels with controlled mechanical properties
- how to operate an atomic force microscope to perform quasi static and dynamic mechanical analysis
- how to design, organize, and conduct experiments, including sample preparation and data evaluation
- how to design and fabricate hydrogels with controlled mechanical properties
- how to operate an atomic force microscope to perform quasi static and dynamic mechanical analysis
Place(s) where the thesis work will be carried out:
Additional information
Maximum number of students: 1