XClose

Wellcome / EPSRC Centre for Interventional and Surgical Sciences

Home
Menu

Microrobotics and Single Cell Micromanipulation for Medicine

21 April 2022, 2:00 pm–5:00 pm

symposium poster for Microrobotics and Single Cell Micromanipulation for Medicine

This joint mini-symposium between University of Toronto and WEISS at UCL discusses microrobotics and cell micromanipulation for medicine

This event is free.

Event Information

Open to

All

Availability

Yes

Cost

Free

Organiser

Amy Warnock

Understanding the fundamental biology of stem cells has important implications for developmental biology, disease and regenerative medicine. This mini-symposium will highlight key questions in the field of stem cell biology and the development of technologies to harvest, manipulate and analyse stem cells and other rare cells including: Surgical Robotics, Computer Vision, Artificial Intelligence, Optoelectronic Microrobots.

Agenda

9:00 EDT / 14:00 BST: Opening remarks - Aaron Wheeler (U of T)

Session 1 - Chair: Cindi Morshead (U of T)

9:10 EDT / 14:10 BST: Microfluidic Magnetic Sorting Allows Purification of Mouse Retinal Stem Cells and Reveals the Mechanisms of their Adult Quiescence - Derek van der Kooy (U of T)

9:40 EDT / 14:40 BST: Optoelectronic Microrobots for cell manipulation and medicine - Shuailong Zhang (BIT)

9:55 EDT / 14:55 BST: Harnessing the potential of rare stem cells for neuroregeneration - Filip Stojic (U of T)

10:10 EDT / 15:10 BST: Examining the central nervous system with DISCO - Erica Scott (U of T)

10:25 EDT / 15:25 BST: BREAK

Session 2 - Chair: Mike Shaw (UCL)

10:35 EDT / 15:35 BST: Automated bioprocessing and manufacturing strategies for the production of human stem cells - Qasim Rafiq (UCL)

11:05 EDT / 16:05 BST: Robotic Manipulation in Micro-Nano Environments - Vijay Pawar (UCL)

11:20 EDT / 16:20 BST: Adaptive autonomous navigation of multiple optoelectronic microrobots in dynamic environments - Laurent Mennillo (UCL)

11:35 EDT / 16:35 BST: Micromachines Driven by Optoelectronic Tweezers - Mohamed Elsayed (U of T)

11:50 EDT / 16:50 BST: Special announcement and closing remarks - Vijay Pawar (UCL) and Dan Stoyanov (UCL)

 

Speakers

Microfluidic Magnetic Sorting Allows Purification of Mouse Retinal Stem Cells and Reveals the Mechanisms of their Adult Quiescence
Derek van der Kooy, University of Toronto

Derek van de Kooy headshot
Abstract and Bio

Adult mouse and human retinal stem cells can be isolated from the peripheral ciliary margin of the eye. Mouse retinal stem cells proliferate actively during development, but become quiescent by postnatal day 10. In some fish and amphibians the retinal stem cells continue to proliferate throughout adult life adding new retinal neurons to the eye. Retinal stem cell proliferative quiescence is mediated by proteins released from the lens and cornea of the eye. A microfluidic magnetic antibody sorting platform has allowed the purification of adult retinal stem cells from 1 in 500 cells in the ciliary marginal zone to 1 in 2 cells. Deep single cell RNA sequencing of these purified retinal stem cells has revealed epigenetic mechanisms (Hdac10) that enforce adult mammalian retinal stem cell quiescence. Hdac10 inhibition primes adult retinal stem cells to proliferate. Induction of adult retinal stem cell proliferation in vivo produces new retinal neurons that migrate into the mature retina.

Derek van der Kooy serves as Professor in the Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto. Derek's lab works on stem cell biology and developmental biology, as well as genes important for learning and memory in worms, and the neurobiology of motivation in rodents. Of note, the lab discovered early embryonic primitive mouse brain stem cells, as well as adult mammalian retinal and pancreatic stem cells. Derek received a M.Sc. in Psychology at the University of British Columbia, and a Ph.D in Anatomy, first at Erasmus University in the Netherlands, and finishing in the Department of Anatomy at the University of Toronto. He gained postdoctoral research experience at Cambridge University in England and at the Salk Institute in California

--

Optoelectronic Microrobots for cell manipulation and medicine
Shuailong Zhang, Beijing Institute of Technology

Headshot of Shuailong Zhang
Abstract and Bio

Optoelectronic tweezers (OET) is a useful opto-electro-fluidic technology utilizing light-patterned dielectrophoresis (DEP) for fine and non-invasive control and actuation of micro-objects. In the first part of this presentation, I will introduce an OET-driven microrobotic system, which can be programmed to carry out sophisticated, multiaxis operations. One particularly useful program is a serial combination of “load,” “transport,” and “deliver,” which can be applied to manipulate a wide range of micrometer-dimension payloads. In the second part of the presentation, I will introduce the use of OET to drive multi-component micro-machines such as micro-gear trains and micro- rack-pinion systems, which were demonstrated for different applications in micromanipulation, microfluidics and microrobots. Finally, I will introduce the commercialization of the OET technology and its application for the development of biopharmaceutical products. These results demonstrated that OET is a versatile toolbox that can be used for many applications in the microscopic work for physics, engineering, and biomedical research. 

Shuailong Zhang completed his PhD in 2016 at the Institute of Photonics, University of Strathclyde (UK). His PhD was primarily concerned with the fabrication and characterisation of micro-LED devices. After completing his PhD, Shuailong Zhang joined in the School of Engineering at the University of Glasgow (UK), where he worked as a postdoctoral researcher on developing optoelectronic tweezers (OET) system to assemble micro-electronic/optoelectronic components. In early 2017, Shuailong joined the University of Toronto as a postdoctoral fellow based at Wheeler Microfluidic lab to further develop OET system for biomedical applications. Shuailong Zhang has published over 60 papers on peer-reviewed journals and international conferences, and wrote two book chapters. In 2021, Shuailong was offered a professor position and later joined Beijing Advanced Innovation Centre for Intelligent Robots and Systems, Beijing Institute of Technology, under the “National Program for Overseas Young Talents”. 
 

--

Harnessing the potential of rare stem cells for neuroregeneration

Filip Stojic, University of Toronto

Headshot of Filip Stojic
Abstract

Understanding the promising capacity of neural stem cells found in the mammalian central nervous system is central to their use as treatments for injury, aging and disease. This talk will highlight what we know about the properties of mammalian neural stem cells and their niche, as well as the need for technologies that will allow us to isolate and study them to maximize their potential as regenerative therapeutics.

--

Examining the central nervous system with DISCO

Erica Scott, University of Toronto

Erica Scott

--

Automated bioprocessing and manufacturing strategies for the production of human stem cells

Qasim Rafiq, University College London

Abstract and Bio

Abstract: Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) are a promising candidate for cell-based therapy applications due to their multipotency and immune modulatory properties. However, the effective transfer of hMSCs into widespread clinical applications requires robust, cost-effective bioprocesses to produce cells of sufficient quality and quantity. 

Improvements to process development and manufacturing technologies will have a significant impact in reducing the overall costs associated with scaled production of cell therapies. Small-scale models play a critical role as they reduce reagent requirements and facilitate high-throughput screening of process parameters. 

This talk will focus on the bioprocessing and manufacturing considerations stem cell therapy products and will introduce the work producing human adult stem cells in bioreactors at the litre-scale. The talk will also focus on the development of relevant small-scale models as well as automated, robotic manufacturing platforms for the large-scale production of hMSCs.

Bio: Dr Qasim Rafiq is an Associate Professor in Cell and Gene Therapy Bioprocess Engineering in the Department of Biochemical Engineering, University College London. He is a multidisciplinary engineer working at the life science, engineering and commercial interfaces with a research focus on bioprocessing, automation and biomanufacture of cell and gene-based therapies. He currently leads a research portfolio of > £7M as Principal Investigator and leads a dynamic interdisciplinary research group that collaborate internationally with key academic institutions, industry partners, and leading clinicians. Qasim is both a Chartered Engineer (CEng) and Chartered Scientist (CSci) and sits on multiple scientific and engineering committees including the IChemE Biochemical Engineering Subject Interest Group, British Standards Institute Biotechnology Committee and the BIA’s Cell and Gene Therapy Advisory Committee.

--

Robotic Manipulation in Micro-Nano Environments

Vijay Pawar, University College London

Bio

Dr Vijay M. Pawar is co-Director of the TouchLab and Autonomous Manufacturing Lab at University College London, Department of Computer Science. He leads a multi-disciplinary engineering team developing full-stack multi-robot sensing, planning and 3DUI tools to perform mobile autonomous manufacturing tasks in both micro-nano and large-volume environments. At the TouchLab, prior work includes developing micro-nano force feedback manipulation systems that operate on small objects less than the size of a cell; useful in high-throughput applications from microfabrication to nanomedicine and cell-based therapies. Going up the scales, through the Autonomous Manufacturing Lab, the team has also developed new capabilities in distributed multi-robot construction systems exploring how teams of autonomous agents can collaborate with humans to build architecture scale structures. Throughout, Vijay has a key research interest in the role of forces and their impact on performing manipulation tasks in extreme-scale environments.

--

Adaptive autonomous navigation of multiple optoelectronic microrobots in dynamic environments

Laurent Mennillo, University College London

Laurent Mennillo headshot
Abstract and Bio

Abstract: The optoelectronic microrobot is a promising light-controlled micromanipulation technology which has particular promise for collecting and transporting sensitive microscopic objects such as biological cells. However, wider application of the technology is currently limited by a reliance on manual control and a lack of methods for simultaneous manipulation of multiple microrobotic actuators. We present a computational framework for autonomous navigation of multiple optoelectronic microrobots in dynamic environments. Combining closed-loop visual-servoing, SLAM, real-time detection of targets and obstacles, dynamic pathfinding and adaptive motion behaviours, this approach allows microrobots to avoid moving obstacles and perform a range of tasks in real-world dynamic environments. The capabilities of the system are demonstrated through micromanipulation experiments in simulation and in real conditions using a custom built optoelectronic tweezer system.

Bio: Laurent Mennillo received his M.Sc. in Computer Science at Université Aix-Marseille (FR) and completed his Ph.D. in 2019 at Université Clermont-Auvergne (FR) on Computer Vision systems for autonomous vehicle navigation in partnership with Renault Group. His Ph.D. focused on 3D reconstruction of dynamic environments using heterogeneous multi-camera systems in wide-baseline configuration. After completing his Ph.D., Laurent Mennillo joined the Touch Lab and Wellcome / EPSRC Centre for Interventional and Surgical Sciences at UCL as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow to work on bioimage analysis and opto-electronic microrobotics applied to automated cell harvesting. He is currently investigating AI-driven methods for autonomous perception, navigation, and cooperation of Opto-Electronic Microrobots (OEMs) in dynamic environments.

--

Micromachines Driven by Optoelectronic Tweezers

Mohamed Elsayed, University of Toronto

Headshot of Mohamed Elsayed
Abstract and Bio

Abstract: In the first part of the talk, I will introduce light-driven micromachines made up of multiple components working together that rely on optoelectronic tweezers (OET). Using a "micro-gear" as a unit component, new functionalities were demonstrated, including a micro "missile-launcher" that enables 3D particle trajectory control, multi-component micro-gear trains that serve as torque- or velocity-amplifiers, and micro-rack-and-pinion systems that serve as microfluidic valves, with potential applications in microrobotics, micromanipulation, and microfluidics. In the second part of the talk, I will give a brief overview about plans in developing this technology to isolate stem cells from mouse brain tissue dissections.

Bio: Mohamed joined the Wheeler lab September 2018 as a PhD student in Biomedical Engineering. Prior to starting his PhD, he worked on various research topics, including image processing using FPGAs, sperm cell swimming behavior using microfluidics, nanophotonic sensors. Mohamed received his Bachelor’s and Master’s of Engineering degrees in Electrical Engineering from University of Toronto and a Master’s of Science in Nanotechnology from the American University in Cairo. 

 

More information on agenda and speakers to follow.

This mini-symposium has been organised as part of the project: “Self-guided Microrobotics for Automated Brain Dissection” - a collaboration between the Wellcome / EPSRC Centre for Interventional and Surgical Sciences (WEISS) at UCL and the University of Toronto. We gratefully acknowledge funding from a UCL-University of Toronto Strategic Partner Fund Seed Grant.