WFU Joint Physics and Chemistry Colloquium

TITLE: Connecting Physics and Physiology: Fluid Flows from Microfluidics to the Lung

SPEAKER: Professor Richard Superfine ,

TIME: Wednesday January 19, 2011 at 4:00 PM

PLACE: Room 101 Olin Physical Laboratory

The challenge of today is to employ mathematical and physical models to understand biology and physiology from established principles. We are endeavoring to build computational models of the physiology of the lung's self-defense system through the discovery of the underlying principles of propulsion and polymer physics. The lung fights off infection by providing a filter - mucus - and a way of clearing mucus from the lung. The two principle mechanisms for clearance are cilia propulsion and airflow. To establish the underlying principles, we are using a series of measurements and engineered model systems that attempt to capture the physical and biological phenomena in settings that also allow precise measurements. We are performing measurements of the polymer physics of mucus using bead rheology at the size and time scales of mucus propulsion. We perform measurements of cilia forces within cell cultures that replicate the lung tissue biology. To understand the coupling between cilia and mucus we have fabricated artificial cilia systems that can produce directed flow and striking mixing effects. Most recently, we have constructed "clearance on a chip" by placing the cell cultures within microfluidic channels to understand long range mucus transport. Finally, to understand airflow, we have built systems that produce fluid motion due to the controlled flow of air over the fluid surface and can induce cough-like airflows. I will present an overview of this work and its role in developing therapies for lung disease.

Special colloquium sponsored by the Translational Science Center.