# overview
Dr. Roland Kaunas' laboratory focuses on the engineering of micro-tissues containing mesenchymal stem cells as vehicles for regenerating musculoskeletal tissues and as cell-based models for studying bone tumor biology. This work employs sophisticated microfluidic platforms, custom bioreactors, and novel scaffolding strategies involving composites of natural and synthetic polymers.

Kaunas' group also studies how mechanical stresses and strains, such as tensile stretch and fluid shear stress, regulate cell function in vascular tissues including arteries, capillaries and lymphatics. This work involves integration of experiments and theory to elucidate the roles of intracellular contractility, applied forces and scaffold material properties on cell architecture and transduction of mechanical stimuli into intracellular signals leading to changes in cell behavior.

# keywords[]
1.1 Normal Biological Development And Functioning

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1.1 Normal Biological Development And Functioning

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Intercellular Signaling Peptides And Proteins

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1.1 Normal Biological Development And Functioning

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3205 Medical Biochemistry And Metabolomics

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1.1 Normal Biological Development And Functioning

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Intercellular Signaling Peptides And Proteins

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4012 Fluid Mechanics And Thermal Engineering

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1.1 Normal Biological Development And Functioning

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1.1 Normal Biological Development And Functioning

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1.1 Normal Biological Development And Functioning

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Cell Culture Techniques, Three Dimensional

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1.1 Normal Biological Development And Functioning

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1.1 Normal Biological Development And Functioning

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Stem Cell Research - Nonembryonic - Human

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1.1 Normal Biological Development And Functioning

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1.1 Normal Biological Development And Functioning

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Stem Cell Research - Nonembryonic - Non-human

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5 Development Of Treatments And Therapeutic Interventions

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1.1 Normal Biological Development And Functioning

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Intracellular Signaling Peptides And Proteins

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Stem Cell Research - Nonembryonic - Human

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Networking And Information Technology R&d (nitrd)

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T-lymphoma Invasion And Metastasis-inducing Protein 1

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1.1 Normal Biological Development And Functioning

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1.1 Normal Biological Development And Functioning

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Stem Cell Research - Nonembryonic - Human

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Stem Cell Research - Nonembryonic - Non-human

# educationAndTraining[].organization.label
University of Wisconsin - Madison - (Madison, Wisconsin, United States)

# educationAndTraining[].organization.label
University of California, San Diego - (San Diego, California, United States)

# educationAndTraining[].organization.label
Northwestern University - (Evanston, Illinois, United States)

# publications[].label
Pulsatile equibiaxial stretch inhibits thrombin-induced RhoA and NF-kappaB activation.

# publications[].label
CALCIUM REGULATION IN LYMPHATIC ENDOTHELIAL CELLS UNDER FLOW

# publications[].label
A kinematic model coupling stress fiber dynamics with JNK activation in response to matrix stretching.

# publications[].label
A kinematic model of stretch-induced stress fiber turnover and reorientation.

# publications[].label
Nanoengineered Ionic-Covalent Entanglement (NICE) Bioinks for 3D Bioprinting.

# publications[].label
Mechanical Stretch Assays in Cell Culture Systems

# publications[].label
Multiscale Regulation of Mechanosensing in Soft Tissues

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S1P Synergizes with Wall Shear Stress and Other Angiogenic Factors to Induce Endothelial Cell Sprouting Responses.

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Cellular Reconstitution of Actively Self-Organizing Systems

# publications[].label
Conditioning of 3D Printed Nanoengineered Ionic-Covalent Entanglement Scaffolds with iP-hMSCs Derived Matrix.

# publications[].label
Sarcomeric model of stretch-induced stress fiber reorganization

# publications[].label
Three-dimensional in vitro modeling of malignant bone disease recapitulates experimentally accessible mechanisms of osteoinhibition.

# publications[].label
Uniaxial and equibiaxial strains have different effects on the time course of the activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase and morphology of endothelial cells

# publications[].label
Dependence of cyclic stretch-induced stress fiber reorientation on stretch waveform.

# publications[].label
Rational Design of Materials for 3D Bioprinting of Bioinks for Fabricating Human Tissues

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Effects of Fluid Shear Stress on Endothelial Cell Invasion Into Three-Dimensional Matrices

# publications[].label
Modeling Cellular Adaptation to Mechanical Stress

# publications[].label
Handbook of Imaging in Biological Mechanics

# publications[].label
Scalable manufacture of therapeutic mesenchymal stromal cell products on customizable microcarriers in vertical wheel bioreactors that improve direct visualization, product harvest, and cost.

# publications[].label
Comparison of polystyrene and hydrogel microcarriers for optical imaging of adherent cells

# publications[].label
Calpain 2 is activated downstream of wall shear stress and sphingosine-1-phosphate to induce endothelial cell sprout formation in three dimensional collagen matrices

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A dynamic stochastic model of frequency-dependent stress fiber alignment induced by cyclic stretch.

# publications[].label
Dissecting Molecular Origins of the Mechano-Adaptive Behaviors of Actomyosin Bundles

# publications[].label
A Dynamic Stochastic Model of Frequency-Dependent Stress Fiber Alignment Induced by Cyclic Stretch

# publications[].label
Collagen microsphere production on a chip.

# publications[].label
The direction of stretch-induced cell and stress fiber orientation depends on collagen matrix stress.

# publications[].label
Volumetric imaging of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) for non-destructive quantification of 3D cell culture growth.

# publications[].label
A Theoretical Model of Stretch-Induced Stress Fiber Remodeling

# publications[].label
A scalable system for generation of mesenchymal stem cells derived from induced pluripotent cells employing bioreactors and degradable microcarriers.

# publications[].label
A Kinematic Model Coupling Cytoskeletal Dynamics with JNK Activation in Response to Matrix Stretching

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Oleic acid surfactant in polycaprolactone/hydroxyapatite-composites for bone tissue engineering.

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Characterization of a pluripotent stem cell-derived matrix with powerful osteoregenerative capabilities.

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2SQ-01 Nonmuscle Myosin II-Based Regulation of Cellular Tensional Homeostasis(2SQ Developing Mechanobiology:from fundamentals to medical applications,The 49th Annual Meeting of the Biophysical Society of Japan)

# publications[].label
Role of Directionality of Pulsatile Strain on Cell Shape and JNK Activation

# publications[].publisher
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)

# publications[].label
IN4MER Bioink: A Phosphorescent Biosensing Bio-ink for Multiple Analytes (Glucose, Lactate, Oxygen) Measurements and Temperature Sensing Applications

# publications[].label
Polarization light-sheet microscopy and tomography (PLTo) for flow-based imaging of 3D microcarrier mesenchymal stem cell culture

# publications[].label
Actin stress fibers are at a tipping point between conventional shortening and rapid disassembly at physiological levels of MgATP.

# publications[].label
Hydrogel Bioink Reinforcement for Additive Manufacturing: A Focused Review of Emerging Strategies.

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Hybrid nonlinear photoacoustic and reflectance confocal microscopy for label-free subcellular imaging with a single light source.

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Measurement of shear stress-mediated intracellular calcium dynamics in human dermal lymphatic endothelial cells.

# publications[].label
Dependence of Cyclic Stretch-Induced Stress Fiber Reorientation on Stretch Waveform

# publications[].label
Fluid shear stress modulates endothelial cell invasion into three-dimensional collagen matrices.

# publications[].label
Fluid shear stress and sphingosine 1-phosphate activate calpain to promote membrane type 1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP) membrane translocation and endothelial invasion into three-dimensional collagen matrices.

# publications[].label
Effects of flow patterns on the localization and expression of VE-cadherin at vascular endothelial cell junctions: in vivo and in vitro investigations.

# publications[].label
The many ways adherent cells respond to applied stretch.

# publications[].label
The Direction of Cyclic Stretch-Induced Cell and Stress Fiber Alignment Depends on Matrix Rigidity

# publications[].label
Advanced Bioinks for 3D Printing: A Materials Science Perspective.

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Morphological cell image analysis for real-time monitoring of stem cell culture

# publications[].publisher
SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics

# publications[].label
Good advice for endothelial cells: Get in line, relax tension, and go with the flow.

# publications[].label
Stretch-induced stress fiber remodeling and the activations of JNK and ERK depend on mechanical strain rate, but not FAK.

# publications[].label
A Kinematic Model Coupling Cytoskeletal Dynamics With JNK Activation in Response to Matrix Stretching

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DEVELOPING A MODEL FOR MASS TRANSPORT OF NITRIC OXIDE IN THE LYMPHATIC SYSTEM

# publications[].label
Mimicking the Organic and Inorganic Composition of Anabolic Bone Enhances Human Mesenchymal Stem Cell Osteoinduction and Scaffold Mechanical Properties.

# publications[].label
Synergistic Regulation of Angiogenic Sprouting by Biochemical Factors and Wall Shear Stress.

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Fluid shear stress promotes proprotein convertase-dependent activation of MT1-MMP.

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Widespread changes in transcriptome profile of human mesenchymal stem cells induced by 2D nanosilicates

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Accelerated Bone Healing in Calvarial and Femoral Defects with Injectable Microcarriers that Mimic the Osteogenic Niche

# publications[].label
Regulation of stretch-induced JNK activation by stress fiber orientation.

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Directional shear flow and Rho activation prevent the endothelial cell apoptosis induced by micropatterned anisotropic geometry.

# publications[].publisher
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

# publications[].label
Bioactive nanoengineered hydrogels for bone tissue engineering: a growth-factor-free approach.

# publications[].label
Stretch-Induced Stress Fiber Remodeling and MAPK Activations Depend on Mechanical Strain Rate

# publications[].label
Cyclic Stretch-Induced Reorganization of Stress Fibers in Endothelial Cells

# publications[].label
In vivo approach of calcium deficient hydroxyapatite filler as bone induction factor.

# publications[].label
Cooperative effects of Rho and mechanical stretch on stress fiber organization.

# publications[].publisher
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

# publications[].label
Widespread changes in transcriptome profile of human mesenchymal stem cells induced by two-dimensional nanosilicates.

# publications[].publisher
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

# publications[].label
Fluid shear stress and sphingosine 1-phosphate promote Filamin A membrane translocation and complex formation with VE-cadherin during endothelial cell invasion.

# publications[].label
Volumetric Imaging of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells (hMSCs) for Non-Destructive Quantification of 3D Cell Culture Growth

# publications[].label
Effects of cell tension on the small GTPase Rac.

# publications[].label
Cellular and Molecular Bioengineering: A Tipping Point.

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Photocrosslinkable and elastomeric hydrogels for bone regeneration.

# publications[].label
Automated mesenchymal stem cell segmentation and machine learning-based phenotype classification using morphometric and textural analysis.

# publications[].publisher
SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics

# publications[].label
Effects of Fluid Shear Stress on Endothelial Cell Invasion Into Three-Dimensional Matrices

# publications[].label
In Silico Searching for Alternative Lead Compounds to Treat Type 2 Diabetes through a QSAR and Molecular Dynamics Study.

# publications[].label
Dynamic Stress Fiber Reorganization on Stretched Matrices

# publications[].label
Dynamic Adaption of Actin Stress Fibers in Response to Stretch

# publications[].label
Multiple Roles for Myosin II in Tensional Homeostasis Under Mechanical Loading

# publications[].label
Oscillatory equi-biaxial strain activates JNK in a frequency-dependent manner in bovine aortic endothelial cells

# publications[].publisher
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)

# publications[].label
Non-muscle myosin II induces disassembly of actin stress fibres independently of myosin light chain dephosphorylation.

# publications[].label
Cyclic stretch-induced stress fiber dynamics - dependence on strain rate, Rho-kinase and MLCK.

# publications[].label
The Direction of Cyclic Stretch-Induced Stress Fiber Orientation Depends on Matrix Rigidity

# publications[].label
(390f) Derivation of a kinematic model coupling stress fiber dynamics with jnk activation in response to matrix stretching

# publications[].label
U-Net based image segmentation of mesenchymal stem cells

# publications[].publisher
SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics

# publications[].label
Fluid Shear Stress Modulates S1P-Induced Endothelial Cell Invasion Into Three-Dimensional Matrices

# researcherOn[].label
Establishment of a Cytotherapeutic Discovery Pipeline

# researcherOn[].awardedBy.label
Texas A&M University - (College Station, Texas, United States)

# researcherOn[].awardedBy.label
Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas - (Austin, Texas, United States)

# researcherOn[].label
Nanoengineered bone repair scaffolds generated from stem cells and their secreted products for improved spinal fusion

# researcherOn[].awardedBy.label
National Institutes of Health - (Bethesda, Maryland, United States)

# researcherOn[].awardedBy.preferredLabel
DHHS-NIH-National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

# researcherOn[].label
Lymphatic Fluid Flow Modeling with Active Network Components

# researcherOn[].awardedBy.label
National Institutes of Health - (Bethesda, Maryland, United States)

# researcherOn[].awardedBy.preferredLabel
DHHS-NIH-National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

# researcherOn[].label
Collaboration : Enhancing Bone Regeneration by Mimicking the Osteogenic Niche

# researcherOn[].awardedBy.label
National Science Foundation - (Arlington, Virginia, United States)

# researcherOn[].label
I-CORPS: Stem Cell-Derived Scaffolds For Spinal Fusion And Maxillofacial Bone Repair

# researcherOn[].awardedBy.label
National Science Foundation - (Arlington, Virginia, United States)

# researcherOn[].label
Shedding New Light on Cell-Matrix interactions: Instrumentation Development for Non-Invasive, Real-Time Microscopic Elasticity Imaging-

# researcherOn[].awardedBy.label
National Science Foundation - (Arlington, Virginia, United States)

# researcherOn[].label
IMSD at Texas A&M University:  Initiative for Maximizing Student Diversity in Biomedical Sciences

# researcherOn[].awardedBy.label
National Institutes of Health - (Bethesda, Maryland, United States)

# researcherOn[].awardedBy.preferredLabel
DHHS-NIH-National Institute of General Medical Science

# streetAddress
3120 TAMU, Biomedical Engineering; Biomedical Engineering; 3120 TAMU

# etdChairOf[].label
Hsu, Hui-Ju (2012-08). Integrated Experimental and Theoretical Approaches toward Understanding Strain-Induced Cytoskeletal Remodeling and Mechanotransduction. Doctoral Dissertation.

# etdChairOf[].label
Sears, Candice Marie (2019-04). Cell-Derived Matrices for Bone Tissue Engineering. Doctoral Dissertation.

# etdChairOf[].label
Kudernatsch, Simon (2021-08). An Integrated Approach to Exoskeleton Device Evaluation and Design. Doctoral Dissertation.

# etdChairOf[].label
Mondragon, Eli (2020-08). Forming A More Perfect Union: Fabricating Bioinstructive Scaffolds To Mimic The Osteogenic Niche For Bone Repair. Doctoral Dissertation.

# etdChairOf[].label
Sears, Candice Marie (2019-05). Cell-Derived Matrices for Bone Tissue Engineering. Doctoral Dissertation.

# etdChairOf[].label
Rogers, Robert Eugene (2022-05). Bioreactor-Mediated Gelatin Methacryloyl Microcarrier Expansion and Human Platelet Lysate Supplementation: A Scalable Mesenchymal Stem Cell Expansion Platform. Doctoral Dissertation.

# etdChairOf[].label
Reese, Robert William (2022-08). Strategies to Augment Mesenchymal Stem Cell Mediated Bone Regeneration in Fracture, Fusion, and Osteolytic Lesions. Doctoral Dissertation.

# etdChairOf[].label
Hsu, Hui-Ju (2009-08). Mathematical Modeling of Stress Fiber Reorganization Induced by Cyclic Stretch. Master's Thesis.

# etdChairOf[].label
Tondon, Abhishek (2015-12). Basic and Applied Studies of Cell-Matrix Interactions. Doctoral Dissertation.

# etdChairOf[].label
Kang, Ho Jin (2011-05). The Synergic Effects of Flow and Sphingosine 1-Phosphate on Sprouting Angiogenesis Into Three-Dimensional Collagen Matrices. Doctoral Dissertation.