Repository logo
  • Log In
    Log in via Symplectic to deposit your publication(s).
Repository logo
  • Communities & Collections
  • Research Outputs
  • Statistics
  • Log In
    Log in via Symplectic to deposit your publication(s).
  1. Home
  2. Faculty of Engineering
  3. Materials
  4. Materials PhD theses
  5. Biophysical regulations in neural development
 
  • Details
Biophysical regulations in neural development
File(s)
Hsu-C-C-2018-PhD-Thesis.pdf (55.39 MB)
Thesis
Author(s)
Hsu, Chia-Chen
Type
Thesis or dissertation
Abstract
During neural development, in synergy with widely studied biochemical signals, biophysical cues cooperate in the regulation of cell behaviour. In addition to gene and protein expression, recent studies have highlighted the significance of epigenetic modulation on cell fate. Although it is known that extracellular biophysical cues can affect important cellular events, only a few studies have systematically examined their effects on stage-specific developmental patterns and neuronal maturation, particularly in humans. Moreover, very few of them have further linked biophysical modulations to epigenetic mechanisms. This project aims to create a new bioengineered platform incorporating conductive materials with topographical cues, specifically microgrooves, to examine the combinatorial effects of surface topography and electrical stimulation on clinically relevant neuronal populations derived from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs). The microgrooved platform and its synergistic effects with electrical stimulation can promote neuronal differentiation. For the first time, an increase in epigenetic markers associated with stemness and differentiation, such as AcH3, AcH4, and H3K9me3, was reported on the microgrooves and after electrical stimulation. Using state-of-the-art focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy, the observed epigenetic changes and corresponding nuclear morphology were examined in high resolution. Moreover, in parallel with topography-dependent epigenetic modulations, a new mechanism was proposed –namely that microgrooves can modulate Notch signalling through geometric segregation. Finally, a new tissue-engineered scaffold based on electrospun serum albumin (SA) was developed with the incorporation of both biochemical and biophysical stimuli. This served as a functional growth factor release construct and positively influenced neuronal differentiation and maturation with electrical stimulation. The thesis presents a systematic examination of cellular behaviour in response to biophysical stimuli, including surface topography and electrical stimuli. Together, novel mechanisms associated with epigenetics and signalling pathways as well as the new SA based scaffold, can advance fundamental research in neuroscience and future translational applications.
Version
Open Access
Date Issued
2018-07
Date Awarded
2018-10
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/10044/1/83026
DOI
https://doi.org/10.25560/83026
License URL
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
Advisor
Stevens, Molly M
Higgins, Claire
Sponsor
Taiwan Top University Strategic Alliance
Imperial College London
Publisher Department
Materials
Publisher Institution
Imperial College London
Qualification Level
Doctoral
Qualification Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
About
Spiral Depositing with Spiral Publishing with Spiral Symplectic
Contact us
Open access team Report an issue
Other Services
Scholarly Communications Library Services
logo

Imperial College London

South Kensington Campus

London SW7 2AZ, UK

tel: +44 (0)20 7589 5111

Accessibility Modern slavery statement Cookie Policy

Built with DSpace-CRIS software - Extension maintained and optimized by 4Science

  • Cookie settings
  • Privacy policy
  • End User Agreement
  • Send Feedback