Restricted Research - Award List, Note/Discussion Page
Fiscal Year: 2023
1824 The University of Texas at El Paso (143712)
Principal Investigator: Misra,Devesh
Total Amount of Contract, Award, or Gift (Annual before 2011): $ 468,509
Exceeds $250,000 (Is it flagged?): Yes
Start and End Dates: 1/15/23 - 12/31/25
Restricted Research: YES
Academic Discipline: Metallurgical & Materials Eng
Department, Center, School, or Institute: Metallurgical & Materials Eng
Title of Contract, Award, or Gift: Collaborative Research: The Interaction of Surfaces Structured at the Nanometer Scale With the Cells in the Physiological Environment
Name of Granting or Contracting Agency/Entity:
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
CFDA Link: NSF
47.041
Program Title:
Engineering Grants
CFDA Linked: Engineering Grants
Note:
Nanograined structure provides a surface with high density of grain boundaries (>50%) compared to the coarse-grained counterpart (~2-3%). Our recent studies suggested a clear impact of nanoscale feature on cell-NG interactions. The nanoscale surface favorably influenced cell adhesion ability, leading to remarkable proliferation with numerous cytoplasmic extensions that provided structural and biochemical support to the surrounding cells and mineralized extracellular matrix by the differentiating cells. Based on the intriguing findings, the objective of the proposed research is to acquire a mechanistic understanding of favorable modulation of cellular activity on the NG surface in relation to the CG counterpart. Our central hypothesis is that, "The relative influence of physical and chemical attributes of nanoscale surface compared to the microscale counterpart favorably alters mechanosensitivity of the cytoskeleton. This leads to altered cellular activity at the bio-nano interface through modulating cell adhesion, proliferation of cells and synthesis of functional proteins." We postulate that the nanocrystalline surface has high charge carrier density, low electron work function, and strong adhesive force in relation to the microcrystalline counterpart, which alters the cell micromechanics and biological functionality, leading to pronounced cell proliferation, differentiation of cells and mineralization. To test the hypothesis, we will complete the following specific aims. Aim I. Uncover the mechanisms that will explain how grain boundary state energy and surface energy induced by the nanoscale surface modulates cell adhesion and biological functionality. Aim II. Test the hypothesis that altered electronic properties of the nanoscale surface with high grain boundary energy is the causal mechanism responsible for mediating high cell adhesion. Aim III. Test the hypothesis that mechanosensing of the cytoskeleton is a key mechanism that modulates the relationship between the adhesive (attractive) force of nanoscale NG surface to the adhesion strength of attached cells.
Discussion: No discussion notes