Xiaoyun Ding
Research at CU Boulder, funded by a $1 million grant from the W.M. Keck Foundation, aims to create a new system to study the mechanical properties of cells using surface acoustic waves.听
If successful, this work would provide better understanding of cells and the immune system response and aid in the treatment of diseases like cancer.
The work revolves around biomarkers, said Assistant Professor Xiaoyun Ding, who is leading the project within the College of Engineering and Applied Science. Biomarkers are features that can be used as measurable indicators of disease or change in a cell. He said the proposed new technology, called acoustic activated flow cytometry, would study multiple mechanical biomarkers in cells such as density, viscosity, stiffness and size simultaneously and quickly using sound waves.听
Currently, scientists categorize cells based on biomarkers at the membrane surface molecular level like protein. The most common technique is called flow cytometry and uses lasers and fluorescent staining to examine cells. Ding鈥檚 hope is his team鈥檚 proposed technology will present new revelations about cells and help identify new subgroups of cells.听
鈥淔or example, cancer at different stages shows different mechanical biomarkers which can be used in diagnosis. Or for T cells, when they are activated in an immune response, there is a change in their mechanical properties,鈥� Ding said. 鈥淲ithin the T cells there are also different stages and different subgroups. Many of them have similar surface biomarkers but demonstrate different mechanical properties. Right now it is either very expensive to characterize them or in many cases ineffective to differentiate them by only using molecule-based biomarkers. This technique would totally change that.鈥�
Ding said the proposed technique is similar to how our understanding of physical fitness has evolved. In the past, doctors primarily measured body weight and height to determine a patient鈥檚 health. Today, they use more sophisticated techniques like muscle-to-fat ratios and blood tests, in combination with other tools, to give a clearer picture of physical health.
鈥淭his would give us a new tool鈥揳 new angle鈥搕o look at the cell,鈥� he said.听
Ding is based in the Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering, as are two of his three collaborators. Professor Todd Murray is helping with the theoretical study, while Associate Professor Corey Neu provides tools to verify the measurements. Professor Jill Slansky of the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus will help with the immune-based studies.
Xiaoyun Ding in the lab with a student鈥淚 am most eager to learn how physical changes in T cells of the immune system may influence their anti-cancer responses,鈥� Slansky said.听
was established in 1954 by W.M. Keck, founder of the Superior Oil Company. The foundation funds pioneering efforts in the areas of medical research, science and engineering, and undergraduate education. It is one of the largest and most prestigious U.S. foundations with assets of more than $1 billion.听This award is also supported听by the听Research and Innovation Office, the听Graduate School at CU Boulder, the听College of Engineering and Applied Science and the mechanical engineering department.
Ding said he is excited by the prospect of starting work in a completely new area.听
鈥淜eck has given us the opportunity to explore an entirely new field,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he beauty is we are going to explore something that we don鈥檛 know beforehand. That is very exciting.鈥�
听