A Study of the Regulation Mechanisms of Platelet Activation

Abstract

Platelets play an important role in maintaining hemostasis in the body. As they circulate through the blood stream, platelets receive signals from other cells that call them to sites of vascular damage. When platelets reach a damaged area, they go through the processes of activation and aggregation. During activation, platelets begin to change shape and release their granular contents via exocytosis. During exocytosis, a series of small molecules and proteins are released that serve to propagate the platelet activation signal and initiate wound healing. Overall, this work explores the different aspects of platelet activation using microscopy and single cell methods. Chapter One reviews the different components of the cytoskeleton and the current advances in microscopy that are being applied to study it. While light microscopy is a useful technique for studying cellular dynamics, super-resolution imaging allows for more in depth exploration of the many regulatory roles that the cytoskeleton plays in cells. Chapter Two focuses on work performed to investigate the toxicity of mesoporous silica nanoparticles on platelets. In Chapters Three and Four, the role that the cytoskeleton and plasma membrane play in the shape change dynamics of platelet activation is detailed, with a focus on using microscopy to visualize these changes. Chapter Five analyzes platelet activation to characterize fusion pore dynamics during exocytosis. Lastly, Chapter Six provides an overview of three different chemical education projects I have worked on. The first two projects involved the development and implementation of outreach events at a local community center to teach students about the scientific process and the chemistry behind climate change. The third project is in progress and aims to develop labs for use in the high school chemistry classroom that combine literature with general chemistry concepts to promote student engagement and interdisciplinary focus.