People in Research

Michael Halter

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Advisor: Viola Vogel

Department/status: Ph.D. Candidate

Project overview:
Using supported lipid bilayers as model systems, our goal is to study whether biomaterial surfaces that simulate key features of apoptotic cell surfaces can down-regulate the pro-inflammatory response of macrophages in vitro, and modulate the foreign body response to implanted materials in vivo. Manipulating macrophage signaling could potentially alter the foreign body response and preserve implanted biomaterial surfaces by turning off the degradative functions of the macrophage.

Project details:
A critical feature in normal wound healing is the onset and later abatement of an acute inflammatory response. Upon injury of the tissue, neutrophils and macrophages are activated and recruited to the wound site to eliminate pathogens, cell debris, and foreign bodies. In a short period of time, macrophages become the predominant cell type and are eventually down-regulated from their activated state. The situation is quite different when a biomaterial is implanted into the tissue. Macrophages adhere to the biomaterial surface where they exist for the lifetime of the implant. These macrophages may fuse into foreign body giant cells that concentrate their degradative properties, often leading to damage of the implant. They also continue to secrete signaling molecules that may very well stimulate a chronic inflammatory state and control the foreign body response.

We propose a biomimetic approach to creating biomaterials that heal by generating surfaces that have a key signaling molecule in common with apoptotic cells, which expose molecules on their surfaces that suppress macrophage activation. The display of signaling molecules that are recognized by macrophages and lead to their down-regulation is of vital physiological significance in order to clear apoptotic cell populations without a significant inflammatory response.

Skills: Cell culture, fluorescence microscopy and spectroscopy, image analysis, statistical analysis of data, solid background in engineering principles as well as chemistry and physics

Names of others on the project
Dr. Ronald V. Maier, Professor, Surgeon - in - Chief, Surgery
Iris Garcia, Surgery
Sandra Jelacic, Surgery

Resume:
http://students.washington.edu/mhalter/MWH-resume.pdf