Date of Award

5-2024

Document Type

Campus Access Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Biomedical Engineering and Biotechnology (BMEBT)

First Advisor

Jonathan Celli

Second Advisor

Jill A. Macoska

Third Advisor

Chandra S. Yelleswarapu, Joanna B. Dahl, Imran Rizvi

Abstract

Particle tracking microrheology (PTMR) methods allow for the non-destructive measurement of viscoelastic properties of soft materials by assessing the mobility of embedded Brownian tracer probes. Using this approach to monitor the mechanical characteristics of in vitro 3D cell culture models can provide a useful perspective into tumor growth, metastasis, and treatment response. Here, I use PTMR methods to measure longitudinal changes in extracellular matrix (ECM) viscoelasticity correlated to 3D model geometry, cancer cell line, therapeutic intervention, and dynamic changes in cell motility. I also describe a derivative method for measuring ECM integrity. Our results demonstrate the effectiveness of PTMR methods in quantifying mechanical changes in the tumor microenvironment at pivotal timepoints, suggesting that PTMR could be a useful tool for evaluating the effectiveness of novel cancer treatments.

Comments

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