Glass Transition Biosensors for Regenerative Medicine

The objective of this project is to examine the feasibility of employing fluorescent proteins as a visual means of monitoring the glass transition (Tg) of the solutions in which stem cells are stored and transported as they pass through the cold chain. The Tg of such solutions is the single most critical determinant of patient safety: at temperatures higher than Tg, diffusion and chemical reactions will quickly result in a dangerous loss of function. In this project, we will undertake a series of experiments designed to closely callibrate the light emission levels of a particular class of fluorescent proteins with the viability of a number of well-characterized stem cells such that a loss of colour can be shown to be a reliable indicator of Tg.