Stiffness Matters: Atomic Force Microscopy Measurements in Biomedical Research

Description

In this webinar, you will learn useful approaches for incorporating Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) measurements in biological samples into your research programs. This includes, but is not limited to, obtaining stiffness, adhesion, and topographical images of cells. The Trask Laboratory at Nationwide Children’s Hospital utilizes their Asylum MFP-3D Infinity-BIO AFM to obtain nanomechanical measurements of cardiovascular cells/tissues to better understand the underpinnings of coronary microvascular disease.

About Your Speakers

Sophia Hohlbauch is a Senior Applications Scientist at Oxford Instruments Asylum Research. Sophia has over 20 years of AFM experience specializing in the life sciences. Her expertise includes imaging a wide range of biological samples at conventional and video rate speeds, and performing nanomechanics on cells, tissues and hydrogels.

Aaron J. Trask, PhD, FAHA, FCVS, is a principal Investigator in the Center for Cardiovascular Research at Nationwide Children's Hospital and Assistant Professor in the Departments of Pediatrics and Physiology & Cell Biology at The Ohio State University College of Medicine. He is a trained cardiovascular physiologist/pharmacologist. The major research interests of his lab are centered around early cardiovascular complications of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), hypertension, and metabolic syndrome (MetS). Over the last several years, his lab has been addressing creative and innovative ideas surrounding coronary microvascular disease (CMD) in diabetes and metabolic syndrome, including the emerging field of mechanobiology. The ultimate goal of this work is to effectuate early detection of and novel therapeutic targets of CMD, since it occurs earlier than coronary conduit disease.

Patricia E. McCallinhart, PhD, is a Senior Research Scientist in the Trask Lab at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and has a training background in cellular and molecular physiology. Among many other talents, Patti is the resident atomic force microscopy expert in biological samples at NCH.