Engineering tools for providing mechanical cues to intestinal in vitro models

SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES DURING THE PHD

Publications

1. International Journals

- L. Ricotti, G. Gori, D. Cei, J. Costa, G. Signore, and A. Ahluwalia, “Polymeric Microporous Nanofilms as Smart Platforms for in vitro Assessment of Nanoparticle Translocation and Caco-2 Cell Culture,” IEEE Transactions on NanoBioscience, vol. 15, no. 7. pp. 689–696, 2016.

- D. Cei, J. Costa, G. Gori, G. Frediani, C. Domenici, F. Carpi, and A. Ahluwalia, “A bioreactor with an electro-responsive elastomeric membrane for mimicking intestinal peristalsis.,” Bioinspir. Biomim., vol. 12, no. 1, p. 16001, 2016.

- J. Costa, A. Ahluwalia, “A guide for intestinal in vitro models: advances and current challenges”, under submission

2. Conference contributions

- J. Costa, D. Cei, C. Domenici, F. Carpi, A. Ahluwalia, “Development of a new electrically driven moving interface for the representation of the permeable intestinal mucosa”, Advances in Cell and Tissue Culture, Barcelona, Spain, 30 May-1 June 2016 (poster)

- J. Costa, D. Cei, E. Vanello, A. Ahluwalia, “Development and optimization of a moving interface for in vitro models of epithelial barriers using an EAP”, 6th International conference on Electromechanically Active Polymer transducers & Artificial Muscles, Helsingør, Denmark, 14-15 June 2016 (poster)

- J. Costa, D. Cei, E. Vanello, D. Dinelli, C. Domenici, A. Ahluwalia. “Development of an innovative moving interface for an in vitro model of the epithelial intestinal barrier”, European Congresses on Alternatives to Animal Testing, Linz, Austria, 24-27 August 2016 (oral presentation)

- J. Costa, M. Feula, D. Cei, A. Ahluwalia, “A bioreactor using a porous EAP actuator as a physiological-like interface for cell culture studies”, 7th International conference on Electromechanical Active Polymer transducers & Artificial Muscles, Cartagena, Spain, 6-7 June 2017 (poster)

- J. Costa, M. Ghilardi, H. Boys, J. J.C. Busfield, A. Ahluwalia, F. Carpi, “Innovative bioreactor based on dielectric elastomer actuation to dynamically stretch cells in vitro”, 8th International conference on Electromechanical Active Polymer transducers & Artificial Muscles, Lyon, France, 5-6 June 2018 (poster)

- J. Costa, R. Irardi, M. Macchi, A. Ahluwalia, “Development of a porous scaffold to mimic the topography of the intestinal epithelium”, Sixth National Congress of Bioengineering, Milan, Italy, 25-27 June 2018 (oral presentation).

Formation activity during the PhD

- IVTech Second in vitro Alternatives Workshop, Florence, 23th _{- 24}th _{July 2015}

- 2015 MICACT Training School on Dielectric Elastomer Transducers, EPFL, Neuchâtel, Switzerland, 8th _{- 10}th _{September 2015}

- XXXIV Scuola Annuale di Bioingegneria, Bressanone, 21st _{– 24}th _{September 2015}

- 2016 MICACT Training School on Modelling and Ionic EAPs, University of Tartu, Estonia, 25th _{- 29}th _{January 2016}

- 2017 MICACT Training School on Microfabrication, University of Linkoping, Sweden, 17th – 20th _{January 2017}

- 2018 MICACT Training School on Applications and Industrialization of Electroactive Polymer Devices, University of Darmstadt, Germany, 22th _-25th _{January 2018}

2. PhD Courses

- Electroactive Polymer Devices for Biomedical and Bioinspired Mechatronic systems (2 ECTS)

- PhD+: Research Valorization, Innovation and Entrepreneurial Mindset (9 ECTS) - Academic Writing and Presentation Skills (4 ECTS)

- Nanoscale Biohybrid Engineering (5 ECTS) - Rapid Prototyping for Engineers (3 ECTS) - Wearable Monitoring Systems (3 ECTS)