October 2nd, 2019: Nancy Pleshko – Applications of Vibrational Spectroscopy to Biological Tissue Development and Repair
Nancy Pleshko, PhD
Department of Bioengineering
Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122 USA
Wednesday, October 2nd, 2019
6:00 pm – Talk
Dinner afterwards at Aubree’s Grill
Eastern Michigan University
Halle Library, Rm 302
955 W. Circle Dr.
Ypsilanti, MI 48197
Joint Meeting With Detroit-SAS
Abstract: Tissue engineering approaches are being developed to restore native tissue and organ function, primarily as a response to the many challenges of regenerating native diseased tissues. Current gold standard techniques to assess the composition and integrity of engineered and repairing tissues, including histology, biochemical evaluation, and mechanical testing, are destructive, which limits real time monitoring of tissue development. This is an important area to address, as engineered tissues developed in similar environments can exhibit very different matrix and biomechanical properties. Accordingly, non-destructive techniques to assess engineered tissues during development such that appropriate compositional endpoints can be defined are desirable. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy in the mid and near-infrared regions are intrinsically label free, can be non-destructive, and provide specific information on the chemical composition of tissues. The use of spectroscopic techniques for non-destructive assessment and imaging of tissue growth, repair and regeneration, and the potential for clinical translation, will be addressed.
Biographical Sketch: Dr. Nancy Pleshko is a Professor in the Department of Bioengineering at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA. Dr. Pleshko is recognized for her research on assessment of tissues at the molecular, cellular, and structural level through application of state-of-the-art vibrational spectroscopy. She has substantial expertise in basic and translational research in connective tissue pathophysiology and orthopedics, including osteoporosis and other bone pathologies, and osteoarthritis and cartilage repair. She has over 90 publications, and has received over $5 million in federal funding.
Location and Parking Information: An Eastern Michigan University map with parking and building locations is available here: www.emich.edu/parking/documents/2017-campus-map.pdf.
