Current Lab Members

Mariana Tasso, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Associate

Email: marianatasso@gmail.com

Education 

B.S. Physics
University of Buenos Aires/Faculty of Exact and Natural Sciences, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Materials Engineering
University of San Martin and National Atomic Energy Commission/Institute of Technology Sabato, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Ph.D. Chemistry
Technical University of Dresden/Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research and Max Bergmann Center of Biomaterials, Dresden, Germany

Research

My research is focused on the development of biofunctional microfluidic surfaces that will allow for a controlled capture and release of target stem cells. The major goals of my current research are to enhance the capture efficacy of microfluidic cell separation devices, to reduce non-specific adhesion, and to develop novel cell releasing mechanisms that will ensure cell integrity and viability after release.

Effective isolation of endothelial progenitor cells from whole blood and of skin stem cells from digested murine skin will make these rare cells available for tissue engineering applications. The ability of the captured and released cells to form specific tissues and structures will be evaluated by using in-vitro and in-vivo models in collaboration with Dr. Juan Melero-Martin (Harvard Medical School and Children's Hospital) and Dr. Martin Yarmush (Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital).

Another research area is devoted to the development of microfluidics-based approaches to modular, integrated proteomics in the low protein range. Together with Dr. Kerstin Jaeraas and Dr. Barry Karger (Barnett Institute of Chemical and Biological Analysis at Northeastern University), we are currently working on the design and characterization of a tryptic digestion unit for rare cell protein fingerprinting.

Publications

Journal Articles

M. Tasso, S.L. Conlan, A.S. Clare, and C. Werner. “Active Enzyme Nanocoatings affect Settlement of Balanus Amphitrite Barnacle Cyprids,” Advanced Functional Materials 2012, 22, 39-47.

M. Tasso, A.L. Cordeiro, K. Salchert, and C. Werner. “Covalent Immobilization of Subtilisin A onto Thin Films of Maleic Anhydride Copolymers,” Macromolecular Bioscience 2009, 9, 922-929.

M. Tasso, M.E. Pettitt, A.L. Cordeiro, M.E. Callow, J.A. Callow, and C. Werner. “Antifouling Potential of Subtilisin A immobilized onto Maleic Anhydride Copolymer Thin Films,” Biofouling 2009, 25, 505-516.

Presentations

M. Tasso (presenter), K. Jaeraas, S. Dai, A. R. Ivanov, B. Karger and S. K. Murthy. “Microfluidic pillar-array trypsin chip within an integrated sample preparation context”, 27th International Symposium on MicroScale Bioseparations and Analysis, Geneva (Switzerland), February 2012.

M. Tasso (presenter) on behalf of S. K. Murthy. “Bioadhesive microfluidic channels in clinical medicine and basic science”, 1st Joint Congress in Capillary Chromatography, GCxGC, and MicroScale Bioseparations, San Diego (CA, USA), May 2011.

M. Tasso (presenter), M.E. Pettitt, S.L. Conlan, A. Cordeiro, M.E. Callow, J.A. Callow, A.S. Clare, and C. Werner. “Can Immobilized Enzymes control Marine Biofouling?,” Concepts and Strategies for Surface Engineering to Control Biofouling - Joint ONR/AMBIO Workshop, St. Petersburg (FL, USA), December 2009.

A.L. Cordeiro, M. Tasso, M.E. Pettitt, M.E. Callow, J.A. Callow, and C. Werner. “Immobilized Enzymes to control Bioadhesion,” First European Congress on Microbial Biofilms (Eurofilms), Rome (Italy), September 2009.

C. Werner, M. Tasso, A.L. Cordeiro, M.E. Pettitt, M.E. Callow, J.A. Callow. “Immobilized Enzymes to reduce Marine Biofouling,” Symposium on Biofilms, Harvard University, Cambridge (MA, USA), March 2009.

M. Pettitt, M. Tasso, A. Cordeiro, C. Werner, M. Callow, and J. Callow. “The Potential of an Immobilised Proteolytic Enzyme, Subtilisin A, as an Anti-Fouling Agent. Efficacy against Spores of Ulva and Cells of the Diatom Navicula,” 14th International Congress on Marine Corrosion and Fouling, Kobe (Japan), July 2008.

C. Werner, A.L. Cordeiro, M. Tasso. “Exploring Immobilized Enzymes as Means to reduce Biofouling,” AMBIO/BASF Symposium: Progress and Perspectives in Nanostructured Coatings for Biofouling, Mannheim (Germany), September 2007.

M. Tasso (presenter), A.L. Cordeiro, K. Salchert, C. Sperling, M. Maitz, and C. Werner. “Covalent Immobilization of Subtilisin A onto Maleic Anhydride Copolymer Thin Films,” Marine Adhesion and Antifouling: Concepts and Issues II - 2nd Joint ONR/AMBIO Workshop, Jacksonville (FL, USA), December 2006.

M. Tasso (presenter), A.L. Cordeiro, and C. Werner. “Bioactive Coatings to control Biofouling,” AMBIO Project Meetings, 7 in total at different locations in Europe from 2006 to 2009.