Stephen Tuin Email & Phone Number

North Carolina, United States

• Department of Operative Dentistry/Oral and Craniofacial Health Sciences
• Focused on matrix biology and its role in modulating health and disease through studies on the role of extracellular matrix proteins in mineralized tissue homeostasis, natural compounds for disease modulation, and.
• Investigating the role of phytochemicals including hesperidin on bone homeostasis in vitro using MC3T3-E1 and RAW 264.7 cell models, in vivo in a rat critical defect model, and systemically in a human clinical trial.
• Competent using in vivo rodent models of periodontitis including murine oral gavage and calvarial injection of porphyromonas gingivalis and fusobacterium nucleatum, including inoculation and culture of bacteria.
• Implemented and managed breeding colonies of knockout murine strains.
• Investigating the role of heparin and low molecular weight heparins on mineralized tissue matrix and bone homeostasis.

• Developed and implemented standard procedures for mechanical characterization of native lung tissue and lung scaffolds, including tensile and visco-elastic properties.
• Developed protocols to evaluate stability of decellularized lung scaffolds over time for downstream recellularization processes.
• Characterized native lung and lung scaffold extra cellular matrix (ECM) composition including collagen and elastin content.

North Carolina State University

• Characterized polymer blend systems for suitability in fiber forming processes including meltblown, spunbond, and carding technologies.
• Developed novel fiber morphologies for nonwoven applications with enhanced mass transport properties including hollow, porous, and ultra high surface area gilled fibers.
• Optimized processing conditions for enhanced transport fiber nonwoven fabrication in industrial nonwoven processes including meltblown, Spunblown, spunbond, and carding.
• Characterized fiber and nonwoven scaffold properties including fiber size, pore size, thickness, tensile properties, and burst strength.

Cell Mechanics Laboratory - North Carolina State University

• Mammalian cell culture: Isolation and characterization of human mesenchymal and adipose derived stem cells (hASC/hMSC) using aseptic technique in a biosafety level 2 (BSL-2) environment.
• Developed seeding and characterization protocols for stem cells on 3-dimensional nonwoven scaffold constructs including viability, proliferation, differentiation, and mechanical stimulation in custom bioreactors.
• Proficient in laboratory techniques including spectrophotometry, tissue culture, RT-PCR, differentiation assays, and media/reagent preparation.
• Managed laboratory stock and instrument maintenance (bioreactors, microscopes, centrifuges, plate readers, and qRT-PCR) and trained undergraduate research assistants in aseptic technique.

North Carolina State University

Auburn University

• Optimized algal cell and bubble interactions in water treatment flotation systems for harvesting Chlorella as a feedstock for biofuel.
• Developed imaging and flow systems to evaluate adhesion of Chlorella algal cells to bubble surfaces with high-speed and high-magnification visualization equipment.
• Enhanced algal cell response to flotation processes through study of fluid mechanics, thin-film dynamics, and surface chemistry in lab-scale flotation systems.

Auburn University

University Of Colorado

• Developed and optimized targeted drug delivery system utilizing plasmid DNA and protein encapsulating microparticles to treat chronic pain.
• Characterized drug loading, particle size and morphology, DNA integrity and structure, and solution consistency.

Phd, Biomedical Engineering

Joint program with the University of North Carolina

Phd, Biomedical Engineering

Joint program with North Carolina State University

Ms, Chemical Engineering

Bs, Chemical Engineering

Activities and Societies: Tau Beta Pi, AiChe