Mechanical Stress as a Regulator of Blood-Brain Barrier Integrity

Wednesday, February 15, 2017

4:00 PM-5:30 PM

BIOMED Seminar

Title:
Mechanical Stress as a Regulator of Blood-Brain Barrier Integrity Category

Speaker:
Peter Galie, PhD

Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering
Rowan University
Glassboro, New Jersey

Abstract:
Several neurological diseases, including stroke and Alzheimer’s disease, are characterized by changes to cerebral blood flow. However, studying the effects of mechanical stress exerted by fluid flow in vivo is complicated by the complex environment within the brain. To overcome this challenge, our laboratory has developed a three-dimensional in vitro model of the blood-brain barrier capable of controlling the mechanical stress exerted on the cerebral endothelium.
 
Our findings show that both fluid shear stress and cyclic strain in the absence of fluid flow facilitate tight junction formation in the endothelial monolayer. Additionally, application of pulsatile flow to the in vitro vessels induces a propagating strain wave along the vascular wall, providing an opportunity to investigate stretch-induced transport along the basement membrane. Overall, our research indicates that the mechanical stress exerted by blood flow is an important regulator of transport, both across and along the walls of cerebral microvasculature.
Biosketch:
Peter Galie, PhD, is an assistant professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Rowan University. Dr. Galie has led the Biofluids Mechanotransduction Laboratory at Rowan University since 2015. His work is supported by the New Jersey Health Foundation and the American Heart Association.
 

Contact Information

Ken Barbee
215-895-1335
barbee@drexel.edu