Isabella Weiner
MIT Department: Mechanical Engineering
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Ritu Raman
Research Supervisor: Brandon Rios
Undergraduate Institution: University of Notre Dame
Hometown: Rockledge, Florida
Website: LinkedIn
Biography
Isabella Weiner is a Senior at the University of Notre Dame studying Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering with minors in Innovation & Entrepreneurship and Environmental Earth Sciences. Passionate about the intersection between medical science and engineering, she aspires to pursue a Ph.D. studying tissue engineering and biomechanics. At MIT, Isabella worked under Prof. Ritu Raman engineering and studying skeletal muscle tissues, ultimately hoping to advance the understanding of neurodegenerative diseases and develop functional muscle systems. At Notre Dame, Isabella researches breast cancer bone metastasis in the Niebur Tissue Mechanics Laboratory, investigating bone and cancer cell signaling and the impacts of mechanical stimuli on tumor formation. Growing up on the Space Coast, her fascination for space exploration inspired an early project studying sulfur concrete for construction on Mars. She also explored environmental sustainability at a carbon capture pilot plant through Imperial College London. Outside of research, Isabella serves as President of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers ND Chapter and is part of the ChemE Car team. Isabella encourages other women in engineering through the ND Society of Women Engineers, formerly as Director of Corporate Sponsorship and now as Treasurer. She also enjoys playing on ND Ultimate, exploring nature through hiking and kayaking, and running around campus.
Abstract
Developing a Fibronectin-Enhanced Elastomer Substrate for
Improved Visualization of 2D Muscle Fiber Morphology
Isabella Weiner1, Brandon Rios2, Ritu Raman2
1Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Notre Dame
2Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
In vitro tissue engineering allows for faster and more efficient studies of the morphology and
function of biological systems compared to in vivo models. Skeletal muscle tissue models enable researchers to study neuromuscular signaling and muscle cell growth and differentiation, providing insights into neuromuscular disease mechanisms. Studies have developed 2D methods of engineering muscle fibers and studying their morphology, chemical signaling, and contractility. Muscle alignment, length, and width are key characteristics related to muscle function, necessitating the ability to view and measure whole fibers. However, the common use of extracellular matrix (ECM)-mimicking hydrogels (e.g., fibrin) as substrates results in an uneven surface plane, compromising replicability and imaging capabilities. This study develops an alternative substrate for muscle cell growth using functionalized polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) with the ECM protein fibronectin. Various compositions of commercially available PDMS were mechanically tested to match the mechanical properties of fibrin. This blend was then spin-coated onto glass and functionalized using aminosilane and glutaraldehyde chemistry, forming stable covalent linkages to fibronectin. When culturing C2C12 muscle cells, this substrate acts as a thinner, flatter, more uniform, and optically clear surface for improved imaging and quantification of matured fiber alignment, length, width, and the intensity of fluorescently-tagged proteins.
