Research Highlight:
Dr. Alexander Cartagena-Rivera
Novel Use of Atomic Force Microscopy for Investigating Tissues
This research highlight features Alexander Cartagena-Rivera, Ph.D., and his work using atomic force microscopes (AFMs) to gain a profound level of expertise in tissue investigation. Dr. Cartagena-Rivera and his team at the National Institue of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) Section on Mechanobiology develop and use advanced AFM techniques to understand a variety of complex systems including the sensory epithelium and complex tumor microenvironments. This research highlight provides unique insights into using AFMs to obtain holistic measurements of biological systems in the lab and in the clinic.
“Our lab has this expertise at the tissue level that not many other labs have. Since we are at the NIH, we have easy access to animal tissue and to human tissue. So, we can do this higher-risk complicated research here within the NIH, which would be more difficult or almost impossible in other institutions.”
ABOUT THE RESEARCHER:
Alexander Cartagena-Rivera, Ph.D. is the Chief of the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) Section on Mechanobiology.
FIELD OF STUDY:
The focus of the NIBIB’s Section on Mechanobiology is the development and use of advanced atomic force microscopy technologies for cellular and tissue mechanics investigation. Dr. Cartagena-Rivera has a Tenure-Track Earl Stadtman Investigator position with the NIBIB and is also a member of the NIH Distinguished Scholars program for underrepresented minorities at NIH.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS RESEARCH:
- Lab Website
- Babahosseini et al. Unbalanced bidirectional radial stiffness gradients within the organ of Corti promoted by TRIOBP. PNAS 119 (2022).
- Efremov, Y.M., Cartagena-Rivera, A.X., Athamneh, A.I.M. et al. Mapping heterogeneity of cellular mechanics by multi-harmonic atomic force microscopy. Nat Protoc 13, 2200–2216 (2018).
- Cartagena-Rivera AX, Le Gal S, Richards K, Verpy E, Chadwick RS. Cochlear outer hair cell horizontal top connectors mediate mature stereocilia bundle mechanics. Sci Adv. 5(2):eaat9934 (2019).
