Micro and nanostructured interfaces for characterization of disease states in biological systems

The adhesion and aggregation of cells at solid-liquid interfaces plays a key role in biological function in many systems and is often mediated by both surface and environmental cues.  For example, the formation of platelet aggregates onto the vascular sub-endothelium during in vivo clot formation is mediated by both the surface area available for adhesion and by shear stress, while the development of bacterial communities into biofilms is influenced by physicochemical surface properties and by interspecies interactions.  Using innovative approaches in micro/nanofabrication and surface chemistry, we seek to engineer synthetic interfaces that recreate relevant in vivo situations in order to better understand how cell-surface and cell-cell interactions lead to disease states. These interfaces can then be used in clinical applications aimed at improving the diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment of disease.  Specific applications of our engineered surfaces will include (1) measurement of platelet function for dosing anti-platelet agents, (2) measurement of bacterial interactions that occur during biofilm formation in the cystic fibrosis airway, and (3) high-avidity isolation of bacterial pathogens for rapid detection of bloodstream infections.