SERENA CARRARO

PhD Graduate

PhD program:: XXXV



Thesis title: Development of three innovative in-vitro systems to investigate cellular response in adherent cancer cells: mechanotransduction, elasticity and dielectric properties

Cells’ mechanical and electric properties, as well as cell mechanotransduction, are of fundamental importance in many healthy and pathological biological processes, including cell motility, adhesion, proliferation, morphology, and differentiation. In this context, the aim of this research project was to develop a series of novel experimental in-vitro systems for the study of cell mechanotransduction, cell elasticity and dielectric properties in adherent cancer cells. Nowadays, several devices are employed to recreate in-vitro mechanical loads, such as substrate deformation, shear stress and vertical vibrations in a controlled cell culture environment. On the other hand, adherent cells are also able to perceive mechanical feedback from the underneath matrix and convert it into biochemical signals, via mechanotransduction, even in the absence of externally applied forces. Various studies have reported that a stiffness-controlled substrate, generated to simulate different native tissues, significantly impacts cells’ behaviour. Moreover, cellular response to the microenvironment changes partly depends on their intrinsic properties, including cellular elasticity and dielectric characteristics, which have been recently proposed as biomarkers for the correlation of various human diseases. Understanding the relationship between cells’ mechanical and electric properties, and their response and adaptation to the continuous modifications of their surroundings are gaining increasing attention in cancer research and the development of non-invasive in-vitro systems for cellular response investigation is crucial to understand cell physiological and pathological functionality, to pave the way for innovative diagnostic and therapeutic applications. The following work is composed of three chapters, related to the three macro-themes concurring with the aims above described: cell mechanotransduction, cell elasticity, and cell dielectric properties. Chapter 1 is related to cell mechanotransduction, comprising the development of a custom-made uniaxial strain device to study cancer cell response to a combined mechanical load, namely an external substrate deformation and the cell underlying matrix stiffness. Chapter 2 is focused on the validation of a non-invasive optical method for cell elasticity measurement of cancer cell lines. Chapter 3 describes the development of a novel microwave biosensor, investigating its capability to discriminate different cancer cell types with different aggressiveness.

Research products

11573/1655243 - 2022 - Measuring temperature effects on the dielectric properties of biological liquids by an experimental microwave system
Carraro, S.; D'alvia, L.; Urciuoli, E.; Peruzzi, B.; Del Prete, Z.; Rizzuto, E. - 04b Atto di convegno in volume
conference: 17th IEEE International Symposium on Medical Measurements and Applications, MeMeA 2022 (Messina, italy)
book: 2022 IEEE International Symposium on Medical Measurements and Applications, MeMeA 2022 - Conference Proceedings - (978-1-6654-8299-8)

11573/1644248 - 2022 - A novel microwave resonant sensor for measuring cancer cell line aggressiveness
D’Alvia, Livio; Carraro, Serena; Peruzzi, Barbara; Urciuoli, Enrica; Palla, Luigi; Del Prete, Zaccaria; Rizzuto, Emanuele - 01a Articolo in rivista
paper: SENSORS (Basel : Molecular Diversity Preservation International (MDPI), 2001-) pp. 1-12 - issn: 1424-8220 - wos: WOS:000817478400001 (6) - scopus: 2-s2.0-85131569277 (7)

11573/1657140 - 2022 - Breast cancer cell lines detection by a microwave resonant sensor
D'alvia, Livio; Carraro, Serena; Enrica, Urciuoli; Barbara, Peruzzi; Rizzuto, E.; Del Prete, Z. - 04d Abstract in atti di convegno
conference: VI FORUM NAZIONALE DELLE MISURE (Brescia; Italia)
book: Atti del VI FORUM NAZIONALE DELLE MISURE - ()

11573/1556139 - 2021 - Design and response analysis of a circular patch resonator for adherent cell culture detection
Carraro, Serena; D'alvia, Livio; Cerminara, Francesca; Rizzuto, Emanuele; Del Prete, Zaccaria - 04b Atto di convegno in volume
conference: 2021 IEEE International symposium on medical measurements and applications (MeMeA) (Neuchâtel - Switzerland)
book: 2021 IEEE International symposium on medical measurements and applications (MeMeA) Proceedings - (978-1-6654-1914-7)

11573/1657145 - 2021 - DEVELOPMENT OF A MICROWAVE SENSOR FOR IN-VITRO CELL LINES DETECTION: A PRELIMINARY STUDY
D’Alvia, L.; Carraro, S.; Urciuoli, E.; Peruzzi, B.; Piuzzi, E.; Rizzuto, E.; Del Prete, Z. - 04d Abstract in atti di convegno
conference: FORUM NAZIONALE DELLE MISURE (GIARDINI NAXOS - MESSINA)
book: ATTI V DEL FORUM NAZIONALE DELLE MISURE - ()

11573/1443405 - 2020 - Development and validation of a device for in vitro uniaxial cell substrate deformation with real-time strain control
Apa, Ludovica; Carraro, Serena; Pisu, Simona; Peruzzi, Barbara; Rizzuto, Emanuele; Del Prete, Zaccaria - 01a Articolo in rivista
paper: MEASUREMENT SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY (IOP Publishing Limited:Dirac House, Temple Back, Bristol BS1 6BE United Kingdom:011 44 117 9297481, EMAIL: custserv@iop.org, INTERNET: http://www.iop.org, Fax: 011 44 117 9294318) pp. - - issn: 0957-0233 - wos: WOS:000578320400001 (4) - scopus: 2-s2.0-85094945081 (6)

11573/1443427 - 2020 - The cell-matrix interplay: stiffness and strain homogeneity characterization of substrates for adherent cells
Carraro, S.; Apa, L.; Urciuoli, E.; Peruzzi, B.; Del Prete, Z.; Rizzuto, E. - 04b Atto di convegno in volume
conference: 15th IEEE International Symposium on Medical Measurements and Applications, MeMeA 2020 (Bari, Italy)
book: IEEE Medical Measurements and Applications, MeMeA 2020 - Conference Proceedings - (978-1-7281-5386-5)

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