Carlos Ignacio Castillo Bock
Biomedical engineering
Hometown: Altamira, Tamaulipas, Mexico
Graduation date: Spring 2027
FURI | Spring 2026
Microfluidic Approach to Probe Cerebrovascular Mechanobiology
This study uses microfluidic platforms to model cerebrovascular flow in vitro using human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMECs). By applying controlled shear stress, a successful replication of physiological mechanical conditions is achieved which is absent in static cultures.
RNA sequencing and immunostaining reveal flow-dependent changes in gene expression and cellular phenotype. These findings highlight the role of hemodynamic forces in regulating cerebrovascular function and demonstrate the utility of microfluidic systems for studying vascular mechanisms relevant to mechanobiological phenomena in cerebrovasculature.
Mentor: Kuei-Chun "Mark" Wang