Hydrogel confinement systems for evaluating dynamic intra-and inter- species interactions

Jeong, Yoon

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/120533 Copy

Description

Title

Hydrogel confinement systems for evaluating dynamic intra-and inter- species interactions

Author(s)

Jeong, Yoon

Issue Date

2023-04-25

Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)

Irudayaraj, Joseph

Doctoral Committee Chair(s)

Irudayaraj, Joseph

Committee Member(s)

• Ridlon, Jason
• Underhill, Gregory
• Sirk, Shannon

Department of Study

Bioengineering

Discipline

Bioengineering

Degree Granting Institution

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Degree Name

Ph.D.

Degree Level

Dissertation

Keyword(s)

• Biomaterials
• Hydrogel
• Dynamic Co-culture
• Cell Interaction.

Abstract

Understanding the role of microbes in tumor biology is important to our knowledge of the complex crosstalk between the host and the microbes. Strategies to evaluate the role of microbiome to augment therapeutic responses are warranted both from a basic and applied research perspective. How and why variations occur necessitates an understanding of the intricate crosstalk between cancer cells and the factors that influence both host and anti-tumor therapeutics. In this thesis, the major goal is not only to establish a robust co-culture platform for evaluating dynamic responses of a diverse group of microorganisms and cancer cells but also to demonstrate various applications in dynamic therapeutic responses at the intra- and inter- species level, which have the potential to find microbial markers and specific microbial mechanisms. Our approach represents the development of a hydrogel-based confinement system for dynamic co-culture studies at the intra- and inter- species level. (Chapter 2) We have shown an effective architecture for bacteria confinement, which hosts bacteria inside artificial habitats without disruption and strives to maintain it in a physiologically conducive environment. (Chapter 3) Bacteria colonization at high cell density inside the hydrogel capsules must also ensure longevity and functionality leading to effective production inside and transport of metabolites through diffusive hydrogel networks. (Chapter 4) Based on the confinement system, we demonstrate the hydrogel system for microorganism confinement to serve as tunable platforms not only for long-term physiological evaluation of confined bacteria but also for a range of applications to study host-microbe interactions in a dynamic format. In addition, we have developed a facile approach to evaluate chemotherapeutic intervention (drug inactivation in Chapter 5 and drug activation in Chapter 6, as a proof-of-concept) by fabricating bacteria-based functional architectures.

Graduation Semester

2023-05

Type of Resource

Thesis

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2023 Yoon Jeong

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