| Grant number: | 14/22102-2 |
| Support Opportunities: | Regular Research Grants |
| Start date: | March 01, 2015 |
| End date: | August 31, 2017 |
| Field of knowledge: | Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Physics - General Physics |
| Principal Investigator: | Adriano Mesquita Alencar |
| Grantee: | Adriano Mesquita Alencar |
| Host Institution: | Instituto de Física (IF). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil |
| Associated researchers: | José Eduardo Krieger ; Mikiya Muramatsu |
Abstract
This is a multidisciplinary project between physics and medicine whose main focus is to characterize and understand the dynamics of three types of cardiac cells, or cardiomyocytes: (1) the human iPS, (2) the neonate of rat WT (wild type), and (3) neonate rat KO-CPR3. These cardiomyocytes are currently used as experimental models for research aimed at understanding of heart disease and heart regeneration. Basal dynamics, as well as the response to drugs, of cardiomyocytes will be assessed in the first instance by two techniques: Traction Force Microscopy (TFM) and speckle interferometry. The first technique measures the dynamics of the cell stress on a flexible substrate, looking the motion of nanoparticles incorporated into the substrate. While the second technique will evaluate the fluctuations in the optical path due to the pulsation of cardiomyocytes. These two techniques are complementary and will provide valuable information with regard to the field of stress, frequency and homogeneity of contractions of these cells. During the project we will incorporate two other techniques, Digital Holographic Microscopy and visualization and image analysis of actin fibers via fluorescent markers. The first technique will complement the Speckle and the second complements the TFM in understanding the structural arrangement of these cells. Recently obtained preliminary results of TFM with WT cells, motivated this study. Understanding the differences and the behavior of these cells in the presence of drugs will have a positive impact on research aimed at the regeneration of the heart. (AU)
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