Interaction of Biological Cells with Solidification Fronts
Top: a solidification front (green) approaching two cells. Bottom: example of the capture (small cell to the right) or pushing (large cell to the left) of cells, depending on the local interface morphology and the cell size and properties.
Research
The goal of this project is to develop computational models for cryopreservation - the freezing of biological cells. The ice crystals may reject or engulf the cells, and the local composition profile determines whether the cells survive. We use an adaptive level set procedure to track the moving interface and determine the interaction of the cells with it. The image at right shows an example of the capture or pushing of cells, depending on the local interface morphology and the cell size and properties.
Broader Impacts
This work represents an opportunity to use engineering principles and techniques to examine biological problems. One student received his PhD and is now a postdoctoral researcher at Harvard Medical School. The work has been published in two journal articles.
Publications arising from this research
- A. Chang, J. A. Dantzig, B. T. Darr, and A. Hubel. Modeling the interaction of biological cells with a solidifyiing interface, J. Comp. Phys. 2007. In press.
- A. Chang, J. A. Dantzig, B. T. Darr, and A. Hubel. Cell partitioning during the directional solidification of trehalose solutions, Cryobiology. 2007. In press.
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