Sofia Luna Email & Phone Number

University Of Alabama

My project utilizes a hyaluronic acid hydrogel matrix to mimic the biophysical characteristics of the brain tumor microenvironment to study drug response in brain metastatic breast cancer (BMBC) spheroids. Two different stiffnesses are used to mimic the normal brain (soft, ~0.4 kPa) and tumor (stiff, ~4.5 kPa) environments. Both MDA-MB-231Br and BT474Br spheroids cultured on soft gels exhibited a resistant phenotype with no observed response to drug treatment, while spheroids cultured on stiff gels responded to the treatment. My findings demonstrate that drug resistance in the soft environment was mediated, in part, by serum/glucocorticoid-regulated kinase 1 (SGK-1), as inhibition of SGK-1 resulted in a response to treatment. Overall, such platforms provide a tool to further understand drug resistance mechanisms mediated by the tumor microenvironment in BMBC spheroids.

Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States

6 hours a week for Calculus III and below through the Mathematics Technology Learning Center at UA.

San Sebastián, Basque Country, Spain

During the summer of 2022, I participated in an NSF-funded research experience with POLYMAT at the University of the Basque Country in San Sebastian. The focus of my research was on ionic liquids and their use as electrolytes in supercapacitors. I worked on characterizing the ionic liquid EMINDCA, comparing its conductivity and stability to the more established electrolyte EMINTFSI. Later, I began developing an ionic liquid polymer complex to function as a solid-state electrolyte. The electrolyte uses the block copolymer PS-PEO-PS, whose polar and nonpolar blocks will self-assemble in the ionic liquid. These gel electrolytes retain a high conductivity while also providing better mechanical properties without the use of volatile, flammable solvents found in liquid electrolytes.

University Of Alabama

During my time in the MEAN Lab, I worked on developing a triboelectric nanogenerator with our synthetic, self-healing polymer complex to be used for self-powered wearable strain sensors. I used a PAAMPSA/PANI/PA complex to fabricate a regenerative network cross-linked by hydrogen bonds to enable ultrahigh stretchability and repeatable self-healing. Piezoresistive properties of the materials provided linear responses to strain. Together, we were trying to strengthen the triboelectric properties of our polymer so it would generate its own electrical current and not require a power source to be used as a strain sensor.

Doctor Of Philosophy - Phd, Biomedical Engineering

Bachelor Of Engineering - Be, Chemical Engineering

Activities and Societies: American Institute of Chemical Engineers, Society of Women Engineers