Mohammed Asadi Tokmedash, Graduate Student (Min Laboratory), Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan College of Engineering

This image depicts the dynamic behavior of pre-osteoblast cells (cells that will eventually make bone). These cells use long extensions called filopodia and ruffle-like lamellipodia to migrate, connect with one another and form communities. Under favorable environmental conditions, they will differentiate and eventually give rise to bone cells. In the image, cell nuclei are marked in blue, while the “cytoskeleton” of the cell is colored green. Work in our laboratory is dedicated to exploring the “biointerface” between these cells and their environment, with the hope of better understanding how we can promote bone formation at precise locations within the body.

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