Leonidas Alexopoulos
Education
2004-present
Postdoctoral Fellow, Division of Biological Engineering Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA
Research Topic: Profiling the ErbB signaling network by using suspended microfluidic channels
Advisors: Dr. Peter Sorger and Dr. Scott Manalis
2000 - 2004
Doctor of Philosophy, Department of Biomedical Engineering Orthopaedic Bioengineering Laboratory Duke University, Durham, NC
Research Topic: The mechanical environments of cells in articular cartilage
Advisor: Dr. Farshid Guilak.
2000 - 2004
Certificate in Biomolecular and Tissue Engineering, Interdisciplinary program Duke University, Durham, NC
1998 - 2000
Master of Science, Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science. Duke University, Durham, NC
Research Topic: Mathematical Modeling of the Micropipette Aspiration Technique
Advisor: Dr. Farshid Guilak.
1992-1997
Diploma, Department of Mechanical Engineering, GPA:8.4/10 (Second highest GPA in class)
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
Honors / Awards
2005 Student Achievement Award (Center of Biomolecular & Tissue Engineering, Duke University)
2003 Best Paper Award, ASME Journal of Biomechanical Engineering 2003
Research Experience
Sep 2004 - Present
Post-Doctoral Research Fellow Biological Engineering Division, MIT, Cambridge, MA
a. (SORGER LAB) Investigation of the ErbB intracellular signaling network on TNFalpha treated hepatocytes.
b. (MANALIS LAB) Development of a new method for protein detection that will be applied to monitor intracellular signaling events of the ErbB network. The method is based on aptamer coated microcapillaries that can be thermally regenerated.
Summer 2004
Summer Intern Becton, Dickinson and Company, Durham, NC The focus of my project was to investigate the potentiality of alginate-based scaffolds to be applied to cartilage tissue engineering. Chondrocytes were seeded in tunable scaffolds that can provide anabolic environment for cartilage growth.
1999 - 2004
Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Biomedical Engineering Duke University, Durham, NC
I have completed several independent projects that span areas from cell biology to engineering:
• Investigate the role of collagen type VI in the progression of osteoarthritis in transgenic mice
• Describe the biphasic behavior of the chondrocyte’s pericellular matrix by using biphasic finite element analysis
• Development of a mathematical model that quantifies the mechanical properties of chondrons using the micropipette aspiration technique
• Design and develop a device for mechanical extraction of cells with their pericellular matrix from cartilage tissue
• Implementation of an image analysis algorithm for the quantification of the cell size and shape from digital images and application of this method to the investigation of the chondrocyte volume regulation under osmotic stresses
1998-1999
Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science
Duke University, Durham, NC
• Investigation of neutrophil motility in response to chemoattractants using the micropipette aspiration technique
1997-1998
Research Technician, Department of Mechanical Engineering Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece
• Implementation of an algorithm for tracking eye movements to monitor the progression of Alzheimer's disease
Peer-reviewed publications
[J1] Fotiou F., Fountoulakis KN., Goulas A., Alexopoulos L., Palikaras A., “Automated standardized pupillometry with optical method for purposes of clinical practice and research”, CLINICAL PHYSIOLOGY (2000). 20(5):336-347
[J2] Erickson G.R, Alexopoulos L.G, and Guilak F., “Hyper-osmotic Stress Induces Volume Change and Calcium Transients in Chondrocytes by Transmembrane, Phospholipid, and G-Protein Pathways”, JOURNAL OF BIOMECHANICS (2001). 34: 1527-1535
[J3] Alexopoulos L.G, Erickson G.R, and Guilak F., “A method for quantifying cell size from differential interference contrast (DIC) images: Validation and application to osmotically stressed chondrocytes”, JOURNAL OF MICROSCOPY (2002). Vol 205, pt2, pp:125-135
[J4] Alexopoulos L.G., Haider M.A, Vail T.P. and Guilak F., “Alterations in the mechanical properties of the human chondrocyte pericellular matrix with osteoarthritis”, JOURNAL OF BIOMECHANICAL ENGINEERING (2003).Vol 125, 323-333 (2003 Best Paper Award, J Biomech Eng, ASME)
[J5] Trikey W.R., Baaijens F.P.T., Laursen T.A., Alexopoulos L.G., Guilak F., “Determination of the Poisson's ratio of the cell: Recovery properties of chondrocytes after release from complete micropipette aspiration”, JOURNAL OF BIOMECHANICS (2004) DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2004.11.006 (in press)
[J6] Alexopoulos L.G, Williams G.M., Upton M.L., Setton L.A, and Guilak F., “Osteoarthritic changes in the biphasic mechanical properties of the chondrocyte pericellular matrix in articular cartilage”, JOURNAL OF BIOMECHANICS (2005). Vol 38(3), pp: 509-517
[J7] Alexopoulos L.G, Setton L.A, and Guilak F. “The biomechanical role of chondrocyte pericellular matrix in normal and osteoarthritic human cartilage”, ACTA BIOMATERIALIA (2005). Vol 1, pp: 317-325
[J8] Guilak F., Alexopoulos L.G., Haider M.A, Ting-Beall H.P, and Setton L., “Zonal Uniformity in Mechanical Properties of the Chondrocyte Pericellular Matrix: Micropipette Aspiration of Canine Chondrons Isolated by Cartilage Homogenization”, ANNALS OF BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING (2005). Vol 33(10), pp: 1294-1300
