Research

Research Experiences

Graduate Research Assistant 2018 – Present

Laboratory of Dr. Michael R. King, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University

Research focus: “Engineered models and therapeutics for metastatic colorectal cancer”


Center for Health Innovation Scholar 2017 – 2018

Laboratory of Dr. Hongjun Wang, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Stevens Institute of Technology

Research focus: “Gold nanoparticle-based targeted drug delivery for glioblastoma multiforme treatment”


Summer Science Scholar Summer 2016

Laboratory of Dr. David Putrino, Burke Rehabilitation Hospital and Weill Cornell Medical School

Research focus: “Stroke telerehabilitation, focusing on improving the objectiveness of medical examinations and MRI image analysis”


Undergraduate Volunteer Research Assistant 2015 – 2016

Laboratory of Dr. Arthur Ritter, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Stevens Institute of Technology

Research focus: “Assisted brain-computer interface using EEG for computer cursor control”

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Research Projects & Expertise During Ph.D.

Created using Biorender.

 

Publications

Authorship:

  1. Lopez-Cavestany, M., Hahn, S.B., Hope, J.M., Reckhorn, N.T., Greenlee, J.D., Schwager, S.C., VanderBurgh, J.A., Reinhart-King, C.A., King, M.R. “Matrix stiffness induces epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition via Piezo1-regulated calcium flux in prostate cells.” iScience (2023).

  2. D’Arcy, R., El Mohatid, F., Francini, N., DeJulius, C.R., Back, H., Gennari, A., Geven, M., Lopez-Cavestany, M., Turhan, Z.Y., Yu, F., Lee, J.B., Kagan, L., King, M.R., Duvall, C.L., Tirelli, N. “A ROS-scavenging ‘stealth’ polymer, poly(thioglycidyl glycerol)(PTGG), outperforms PEG in protein conjugates and nanocarriers, and enhances protein stability to environmental and biological stressors.” Journal of the American Chemical Society (2022).

  3. Greenlee, J.D., Liu, K., Lopez-Cavestany, M., King, M.R. “Piezo1 mechano-activation is augmented by resveratrol and differs between colorectal cancer cells of primary and metastatic origin.” Molecules (2022).

  4. Hope, J.M., Dombroski, J.A., Pereles, R.S., Lopez-Cavestany, M., Greenlee, J.D., Schwager, S.C. Reinhart-King, C.A., King, M.R. “Fluid shear stress enhances T cell activation through Piezo1.” BMC Biology (2022).

  5. Greenlee, J.D., Lopez-Cavestany, M., Ortiz-Otero, N., Liu, K., Subramanian, T., Cagir, B., King, M.R. “Oxaliplatin resistance in colorectal cancer enhances TRAIL sensitivity via death receptor 4 upregulation and lipid raft localization.” eLife (2021).

  6. Hope, J.M., Lopez-Cavestany, M., Wang, W. Reinhart-King, C.A., King, M.R. “Activation of Piezo1 sensitizes cells to TRAIL-mediated apoptosis through mitochondrial outer membrane permeability.” Cell Death and Disease (2019).

Acknowledgements:

  1. Babyar, S.R., Smeragliuolo, A., Albazron, F.M., Putrino, D., Reding, M., Boes, A.D. “Lesion Localization of Post Stroke Laterpulsion.” Stroke (2019).

Peer review:

  1. 2 research articles for Cellular and Molecular Bioengineering Journal

Presentations

Invited seminar talks – Presenting author underlined

  1. Lopez-Cavestany, M., Hahn, S.B., Hope, J.M., Greenlee, J.D., Schwager, S.A., VanderBurgh, J., Reinhart-King, C., King, M.R. (2019). “Matrix Stiffness Induces Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition Through Increased Piezo1 Expression.” Seminar talk for the Vanderbilt Epithelial Biology Center, Nashville, TN.

  2. Lopez-Cavestany, M.*, Jayawardana, K.*, Reckhorn, N.T., Wright, O.A., Esteban-Linares, A., Li, D., King, M.R. (2021). “Fabrication of ZnO   Nanostructured Surfaces for the Enhanced Formation of Colorectal Cancer Spheroids.” Vanderbilt School of Engineering Emerging Scholars Seminar Series.

  3. Lopez-Cavestany, M.*, Jayawardana, K.*, Reckhorn, N.T., King, M.R. (2021). “Fabrication of ZnO   Nanostructured Surfaces for the Enhanced Formation of Colorectal Cancer Spheroids.” Seminar talk for the Vanderbilt Institute for Nanoscale Science and Engineering.

  4. Lopez-Cavestany, M., Hahn, S.B., Hope, J.M., Greenlee, Schwager, S.A., VanderBurgh, J., Reinhart-King, C., King, M.R. (2019). “Matrix Stiffness Induces Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition Through Increased Piezo1 Expression.” Oral presentation in seminar sponsored by the Vanderbilt Institute for Nanoscale Science and Engineering (VINSE) and the Materials Research Society (MRS), Nashville, TN.

 

Conference oral presentations – Presenting author underlined

  1. Lopez-Cavestany, M., Hahn, S.B., Hope, J.M., Greenlee, Schwager, S.A., VanderBurgh, J., Reinhart-King, C., King, M.R. (2019). “Matrix Stiffness Induces Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition Through Increased Piezo1 Expression.” Oral presentation in Cancer Mechanobiology, Biomedical Engineering Society Conference, Philadelphia, PA.

  2. Lopez-Cavestany, M., Zhang, Z., King, M.R. (2019). “Cell Surface Vimentin as a Target for Liposome-Based TRAIL Delivery to Metastatic Cancer Cells.” Rapid-Fire Presentation in Nanomaterials / Drug Delivery, Society for Biomaterials Conference, Seattle, WA.

 

Conference poster presentations – Presenting author underlined

  1. Lopez-Cavestany, M., Hahn, S.B., Hope, J.M., Reckhorn, N.T., Greenlee, J.D., Schwager, S.A., VanderBurgh, J., Reinhart-King, C., King, M.R. (2022). “Piezo-1 Regulated Calcium Flux is Modulated by Matrix Stiffness, Controlling EMT in Prostate Cancer Cells.” Vanderbilt Center for Mechanobiology Retreat, Nashville, TN.

  2. Lopez-Cavestany, M.*, Jayawardana, K.*, Reckhorn, N.T., Wright, O.A., Esteban-Linares, A., Li, D., King, M.R. (2022). “Fabrication of ZnO   Nanostructured Surfaces for the Enhanced Formation of Colorectal Cancer Spheroids.” Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center Symposium, Nashville, TN.

  3. Lopez-Cavestany, M.*, Jayawardana, K.*, Reckhorn, N.T., Wright, O.A., Esteban-Linares, A., Li, D., King, M.R. (2021). “Fabrication of ZnO   Nanostructured Surfaces for the Enhanced Formation of Colorectal Cancer Spheroids.” Vanderbilt Institute of Nanoscale Science and Engineering NanoDay, Nashville, TN.

  4. Lopez-Cavestany, M.*, Jayawardana, K.*, Reckhorn, N.T., Wright, O.A., Esteban-Linares, A., Li, D., King, M.R. (2021). “Fabrication of ZnO   Nanostructured Surfaces for the Enhanced Formation of Colorectal Cancer Spheroids.” Biomedical Engineering Society Conference, Orlando, FL.

  5. Lopez-Cavestany, M., Hope, J.M., Hahn, S.B., Schwager, S.A., VanderBurgh, J., Reinhart-King, C., King, M.R. (2021). “Matrix Stiffness Induces Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition Via Piezo1-Regulated Calcium Flux.” Biomedical Engineering Society Conference, Orlando, FL.

  6. Lopez-Cavestany, M., Hope, J.M., Hahn, S.B., Schwager, S.A., VanderBurgh, J., Reinhart-King, C., King, M.R. (2021). “Matrix Stiffness Induces Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition Via Piezo1-Regulated Calcium Flux.” Virtual NIH Tissue Engineering Consortium Meeting.

  7. Lopez-Cavestany, M., Hope, J.M., Hahn, S.B., Schwager, S.A., VanderBurgh, J., Reinhart-King, C., King, M.R. (2020). “Matrix Stiffness Induces Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition Via Piezo1-Regulated Calcium Flux.” Poster presentation at virtual Biomedical Engineering Society Conference.

  8. Lopez-Cavestany, M., Zhang, Z., King, M.R. (2019). “Characterization of Cell Surface Vimentin for Metastatic Cancer Cell Targeting.” Biomedical Engineering Society Conference, Philadelphia, PA.

  9. Lopez-Cavestany, M., Zhang, Z., King, M.R. (2019). “Cell Surface Vimentin as a Target for Liposome-Based TRAIL Delivery to Metastatic Cancer Cells.” Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center Annual Scientific Retreat, Nashville, TN.

  10. Lopez-Cavestany, M., Zhang, Z., King, M.R. (2019). “Cell Surface Vimentin as a Target for Liposome-Based TRAIL Delivery to Metastatic Cancer Cells.” Rapid-Fire Vanderbilt Institute for Infection, Immunology, and Inflammation Annual Symposium, Nashville, TN.

  11. Lopez-Cavestany, M., Zhang, Z., King, M.R. (2019). “Cell Surface Vimentin as a Target for Liposome-Based TRAIL Delivery to Metastatic Cancer Cells.” Society for Biomaterials, Seattle, WA.

  12. Dombroski, J., Lopez-Cavestany, M., King, M.R. (2019). “Shedding Light on Confocal Microscopy.” Biomaterials Education Challenge, Society for Biomaterials Conference, Seattle, WA.

  13. Lopez-Cavestany, M., Wang, Y., Zhang, B., Wang, H. (2018). “Gold Nanoparticle-Based Targeted Drug Delivery for Glioblastoma Multiforme Treatment.” Student Poster Competition, International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering, New Brunswick, NJ.

  14. Lopez-Cavestany, M., Wang, Y., Zhang, B., Wang, H. (2018). “Gold Nanoparticle-Based Targeted Drug Delivery for Glioblastoma Multiforme Treatment.” Northeast Bioengineering Conference (NEBEC), Philadelphia, PA

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 Skills

Molecular Biology

Western Blotting • Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) • Flow Cytometry • Antibody Fragmentation and Purification • Immune Cell Isolation From Peripheral Blood and Spleen • siRNA Knockdown • CRISPR CAS9 Knockout • Viscometry

Microscopy

Confocal Microscopy (and Airy Scan) • Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) • Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) • Atomic Force Microscopy • Light Microscopy • Structured Illumination Microscopy (Super Resolution)

Materials Science

Photolithography • Spin Coating • Furnace Annealing • Nanorod Synthesis • Thin Film Deposition • Liposome Synthesis • Gold Nanoparticle Synthesis • Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) • Nanoparticle Surface Conjugation Click Chemistry • 3D Printing

Animal Work

Research Animal Handling • Mouse Spleen Isolation • Live IVIS Imaging

Technical Skills

MATLAB • Python • Simulink • AutoCAD • SolidWorks • ITK-SNAP • PRISM • Adobe Illustrator