Combining atomic force microscopy with micro-electrode arrays for studying the mechano-electrical behavior of cardiac myocytes Seminar

We applied this approach to the investigation, at the single cell level, of cardiac electro-mechanics and Mechano-Electrical Feedback (MEF) phenomenon which is involved in the adjustment of heart rate, the initiation of arrhythmias, and the re-setting of disturbed heart rhythm by ‘mechanical’ first aid procedures. In order to elucidate the (sub)cellular mechanisms and processes of signal transduction in the cardiac MEF phenomenon, we monitored changes in the topography and elastic properties of single cardiac muscle cells during the contraction-relaxation cycle and the induced electrophysiological response to localized mechanical stimuli.

BIOGRAPHY

Dr. Roberto Raiteri is an Assistant Professor in Bioengineering at the University of Genova, Italy. He got a Ph.D. degree in Electronics from the University of Trento, Italy in 1997. From 1997 to 2000 he worked as a PostDoc fellow at the Institute of Physical Chemistry at the University of Mainz, Germany, in the group of Prof. Hans-Juergen Butt. His main research interests regard bio-nanotechnology. In particular he is involved in research projects dealing with the use of Scanning Probe Microscopy-based methods to characterize biomolecules, living cells and biological tissues at the nanometer scale, and with the development of micro/nano mechanical biosensors. Dr. Raiteri has been principal investigator of several research projects funded by different national and international agencies and private companies. He is member of the IEEE Nanotechnology Technical Committee and the Scientific Committee of the Series of Workshop on Nanomechanical Sensors and co-author of thirty-eight papers published on international peer reviewed journals with Impact Factor (cumulative IF = 145, H-index=16), five book chapters and several conference proceedings.

This seminar is part of the joint research group initiative and researchers from ALL groups (Bio, Materials and nCATS) should attend. Others also are welcome.

Tea, coffee and biscuits will be served from 15:45.