The interest of this lab lies in the application of the theoretical and experimental machinery of physics and engineering to obtain a quantitative understanding of specific problems inspired by biological systems. Specifically, our long term aims are to develop a fundamental understanding on cell mechanics and the mechanisms by which motile cells adhere, spread, and crawl over adhesive substrata with a primary focus on neurons and cells involved in cardiovascular disease.

University of Maryland

Fischell Bioengineering Department

3135 Kim Engineering Building

College Park, MD 20742

P: (301) 405 8250

F: (301) 314 6868

E: helim@umd.edu

 

 

CELLS

VESICLES

BIOPOLYMERS

RECENT PUBLICATIONS

Shapes of Mixed Phospholipid Vesicles. With G. Paredes and A. Maldonado Arce.  J. Biol. Phys. 32 (2006) 177. Description of the morphology of vesicles as a function of the membrane lipid mixture. Cylindrical vesicles form coils when an external perturbation is imposed.

Neutrophil Spreading: From Touchdown to First Steps.. With K. Sengupta, Lee Smith, P. Janmey, and D. Hammer.  Biophys. J. 91 (2006) 4638. Spreading of neutrophils is explored using interference microscopy.  Neutrophils show anisotropic spreading with adhesion dependent growth.

The picture of the month:

October, 2006

November, 2006

Runner up, November, 2006

December, 2006

NJC

January, 2007

March, 2007

Leann Matta wins 2007 PEO scholar award.

Rounded Rectangle: LAB NEWS