Adipose Stem Cell Center
Danielle M. Minteer, BS
Department of Bioengineering
University of Pittsburgh
Central Catholic High School
9 April 2013
Outline
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Adipose Stem Cell Center
Adipose Tissue
Bioreactors
Peripheral Nerve Regeneration
About Me
Pitt Freshman Engineering
Bioengineering program @ Pitt
Graduate School
2
Adipose Stem Cell Center
ASC
Biology
Soft Tissue
Repair
Wound
Healing
Nerve
Regeneration
3
Adipose Stem Cell Center
Clinicians,
Surgeons
(MDs)
Engineers
(PhDs, MDs)
Molecular
Biologists
(PhDs, MDs)
4
Adipose Tissue
• FAT!
• Derived from the mesoderm
• Found in every mammal and some
non-mammalian species
• Maintains energy metabolism
• Lipid storage
• Adipose in Tissue Engineering
& Regenerative Medicine
5
ASC Isolation
SVF
6ASCs
Adipose Derived Stem Cells (ASCs)
• Adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs)
o Differentiate into various tissue types [1]
o Traditionally grow in static, 2D, flat
surfaced, culture flasks [2]
o 2D does not allow lipid accumulation
• 3D Culture of adipocytes
o Ceiling culture [3]
o Gels, scaffolds [4]
o May be maintained
for only short
periods of time
[1] Du Y, et al. Mol Vis. 2010; 16: 2680-9.
[2] Marra KG, et al. Methods in Mol Biol. 2011; 702(3): 261-268.
[3] Zhang et al., 2000; J Endocrinol. 164:119-128.
[4] Kang et al., 2009; Tiss Engr: Pt A. 15(8):2227-2236.
7
Bioreactors
• Bioreactors
o 3D, long-term tissue culture [3]
o Dynamic culture environment
o Provides a more accurate in vitro model of
in vivo conditions
• Types
o Spinner flasks
o Rotating Wall Vessel
o Perfusion Chambers
[3] Gerlach J, et al. Tiss Engr Part C; 2012; 18(1): 54-61.
Image credits: http://www.exomed3d.com/,
http://ajpcell.physiology.org/content/287/6/C1527/F4.small.gif, The
8
Our Bioreactor System
• Dynamic perfusion system + pumps
• pH regulation
• Hollow, porous
fibers
• Uniform gas &
nutrient exchange
• Integrated,
decentralized
oxygenation
• Physiological
gradients
• Negligible shear
stress
9
Our Bioreactor System
Gerlach, et al., 2012
• Established long-term
adipose tissue culture model
within a 3D hollow fiber
based bioreactor [3]
[3] Gerlach J, et al. Tiss Engr Part C; 2012; 18(1): 54-61.
10
Our Bioreactor System
11
Peripheral Nerve Regeneration
• Peripheral nervous system vs. Central
• Trauma, result of other surgical procedures
• Peripheral nerves will regenerate on own up to ~ 5cm
• Tissue engineered nerve conduits
12
Myself: High School
• New Castle High School 2006
• Competitive
cheerleading
• Gymnastics
• Marching band
• Concert band
• Jazz band
• Softball
• Outstanding Young
Woman program
13
Myself: High School
• New Castle High School 2006
• 4.0 < GPA < 4.5; Rank 8/350-400 some
• SAT’s twice
– 800 Verbal, 580 Math, 800 Writing
• ACT
– 28
• AP Courses
–
–
–
–
–
English (5)
Chemistry (4)
Calculus
Economics
US History
14
Myself: High School
• New Castle High School 2006
• Applied to Pitt, Penn State,
Northeastern (Boston)
• Why I chose Biomedical Engineering
– Sounded cool
– “Stable” Career
– Diverse as a female
– Unsure for a very long time
15
High School: What I would do differently
•
•
•
•
Take advantage!!!
AP credits
Shadow your interested career
If interested in research:
–
–
–
–
ROHSS Opportunity (contact: Dr. Kacey Marra)
PJAS, PRSEF, INTEL ISEF
Summer internships/shadowing
Google search & e-mail Pitt/CMU professors
• Apply to programs early, leaves room for more
scholarship opportunities
• Take your entry/placement exams seriously!
16
Pitt Freshman Engineering
• Begin all together as freshmen
• Industrial, Electrical, Computer, Mechanical & Materials
Science, Civil & Environmental, Chemical & Petroleum,
Bio
• Classes first year:
–
–
–
–
–
–
Physics I & II
Chemistry for Engineers I & II
Intro to Engineering I & II (computer stuff)
Freshman Engineering Seminars I & II
Math (typically Calculus I & II)
Electives
• More info: http://www.engineering.pitt.edu/Freshman/
17
Pitt Freshman Engineering: Advice
• Leave breathing room in your schedules, you’ll be
thankful for them when the time comes
• Show up to classes, even if there is no quiz/homework
• Learn your studying style; do you really
understand the material?
• Always be thinking of questions (whether you ask the
professor or not)
• Take advantage !!
• Engineering (SPACE) dormitory living
• Writing Center, Math Assistance Center on Pitt’s
campus
• Social aspects & benefits of being a college student
• “Plus 3”
18
BioE @ Pitt
• 4 tracks
–
–
–
–
Biomechanics
Biosignals & imaging (Most flexible, nice for pre-med)
Cellular Engineering
Medical Device Engineering
• Intense – you will work!
• A lot of teamwork
• Career paths of BioEs
–
–
–
–
–
Industry/government
Medical School
Law School
Graduate School: MS (Professional, Thesis/Research-based)
Graduate School: PhD
19
BioE @ Pitt
• My course schedule
20
BioE @ Pitt: Wise words of experience
• Group work!
• The sooner you learn which career path, the bigger
advantage you have
• Find out what you like/don’t like
• It’s okay to switch majors/colleges
• REU = Research Experience for Undergrads
• Who says you need to graduate in 4 years?
• Enjoy being a student/college life
• If you get the chance, travel!
• Network! It’s all about who you know!!!
21
22
Graduate School: BioE PhD
•
•
•
•
Undergrad @ Pitt BioE  Grad school @ Pitt BioE
Extension of undergraduate courses, new people
More problem solving-based, less memorization
Research is understood to be 1st priority in most
classes
• Preliminary/Qualifying Exam (1st year, 2nd year)
• PhD Thesis Proposal (3rd year, 4th year)
• PhD Thesis Defense (4th year, 5th year, 6th year)
• Stipends: ~$15,000-30,000/year
23
Graduate School: PhD Life
• What I Do day-to-day
• Every day is different!
• I make my own hours
• Lab = home base
• Classes, homeworks, TA-ships
• Enjoying time before “the real world”
• Most weekends & evenings to myself
• Traveling
24
PhD vs. MD
PhD
MD
• Every day is different!
• I make my own hours
• Stipend
• Classes 1st 3 years, very
strict schedule
• Rigorous studying
• Prelim, Proposal,
Defense
• Post-doc, then job
• Step 1, 2, 3, Boards
• Residency, then
practice
• Industry,
Academia/Research,
Clinical
• Industry, Academia
25
Roads to PhD vs. MD
PhD
MD
• Know the right people,
make connections early
• Undergraduate
research & experiences,
diversity
• GRE
• Average age ~27
• Focus on grades &
research in undergrad
• A lot of luck in addition
to hard work
• Undergraduate grades,
research, volunteer,
diversity
• MCAT
• Average age ~24
• Focus on GRADES &
MCAT score
• Be prepared for
application fees!
26
Contact Me
Danielle M. Minteer
dmm69@pitt.edu
Danielle.minteer@gmail.com
Biomedical Science Tower
16th Floor
200 Lothrop St