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Emilia Entcheva , Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering,
Physiology and Biophysics
Designing and characterizing heart cell networks and functional heart
tissue in the lab is the focus of the Cardiac
Cell Engineering Laboratory. We are motivated to provide useful tools
for physiomics type of studies, drug and gene therapy testing platforms,
an experimental setting for validation of computer models of excitable
tissue, and ultimately to contribute to strategies for regeneration of
the heart. This research is multidisciplinary by nature and involves a
spectrum of experimental molecular and cell biology procedures, along
with application of design concepts from electrical, optical, mechanical
and chemical engineering to create the enabling technology for our studies.
Image processing algorithms and computer modeling are essential complementary
tools, developed and applied by our team.
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Figure 1. Engineered cardiac cell
construct in our lab, showing mature cytoskeletal organization
(A), when grown on microtextured elastic
guiding surface (B). Normal electrical
activity (action potentials and intracellular calcium) and mechanical
activity (uniaxial strain) were recorded by fluorescence techniques
(C). Electrical propagation map (activation
times) during an ectopic beat (D)
and mechanical map, represented by streamlines of contraction
(E), were reconstructed using image-processing
algorithms. Arrow indicates the direction of the grooves. |
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A non-exhaustive list of current projects, which IBRP students can participate
in include:
- Growing functional cardiac tissue in the lab: scaffold development,
cell-scaffold responses, functional performance.
- Arrhythmias in a dish and in silico: fluorescent mapping of propagation
of electrical waves in engineered cardiac tissue and computer modeling
of the same process.
- High-resolution electromechanical mapping in engineered cardiac tissue
using fluorescence-based techniques: development of optical mapping
equipment; advanced image processing algorithms applied to assess structure
and function in engineered cardiac tissue.
- Microfabrication of scaffolding for cell growth: the use of non-conventional
methods and materials for designing 3D cell growth platforms, microfluidics
channels, wavy fibers etc.
- Cardiac cell self-organization: how do excitable and contractile cells
respond to surface topography?
- Non-invasive continuous optical measurements of oxygen levels in engineered
cardiac tissue.
Student Background: We are looking for highly motivated undergraduate
students with a strong engineering and math background. Computer programming
skills in C/C++ and MATLAB are desirable. Biology background and training
in experimental procedures could be acquired during the course of the
project. Ideal candidates are undergraduates majoring in Electrical Engineering,
Computer Science, Applied Math, Physics, Physiology or Biomedical Engineering
with strong analytical skills and willing to tackle biomedical problems.
Contact Information
email: emilia.entcheva@sunysb.edu
url: http://www.bme.sunysb.edu/bme/people/faculty/e_entcheva.html
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