Project Info
3D Printing the Trabecular Meshwork for Glaucoma Drug Screening
Melissa Krebs
mdkrebs@mines.edu
Aqueous humor outflow resistance is the primary determinant of intraocular pressure (IOP), and increased outflow resistance is the basis for elevated IOP associated with glaucoma. In humans, IOP is primarily controlled by the outflow of the aqueous humor through the trabecular meshwork (TM). Researchers trying to screen new therapeutics for glaucoma or elucidate TM cell behavior under various conditions currently have the option of either screening the response of TM cells cultured on flat two- dimensional (2D) plastic substrates, or screening the response of the TM using perfusion studies of donor eyes which are expensive to obtain. Most in vitro studies of TM are over-simplified since there is a significant difference between the flat two-dimensional plastic surfaces on which the TM cells are traditionally cultured and the complex three-dimensional (3D) in vivo environment. We hypothesize that natural biopolymer scaffolds with controlled architecture gained via 3D bioprinting can support and influence hTM cell growth and provide a platform for glaucoma drug screening.
More Information:
Grand Challenge: Engineer better medicines
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32589791/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27775151/
https://krebslab.com
Primary Contacts:
Professor Melissa Krebs and PhD student Bikram Adhikari
Student Preparation
Qualifications
Self-motivated, desire to pursue research, desire to learn, basic knowledge of chemistry and biology.
TIME COMMITMENT (HRS/WK)
6
SKILLS/TECHNIQUES GAINED
3D printing, polymer fabrication and purification, cell culture, general lab skills, experimental design and execution, data analysis, presenting written and oral results
MENTORING PLAN
Weekly meetings, direct in-lab mentoring by current graduate student
PREFERRED STUDENT STATUS
Freshman
Sophomore
Junior
Senior