Laurent Bozec

The research carried in my group is highly translational focussing on the application of basic science concepts and innovative technologies to advance the knowledge, understanding and diagnostics of human health and diseases, including those associated with oral health. The Bozec Lab, newly reformed at the University of Toronto, will investigate the mechano-biology of tissues at the nanoscale to establish not only the link between the form & function of functional tissues but also elucidate the inception of several diseases and disorders at the scale where they first occur. With expertise in nanometrology and especially Atomic Force Microscopy & nanomechanics, the Bozec Lab focusses primarily on “Mechano-Biology for Healthcare” in research fields related to ageing, connective and mineralised tissue disorders, and cancer. The Bozec lab is newly established at the Faculty of Dentistry at the University of Toronto. As of September 2019, the Lab will host 2 PhDs (one recruited/ 1 to be recruited), one visiting PhD student from UCL, a research volunteer and a part-time research assistant. Within the next 6 to 8 months, the team will be completed by the addition of a PDRA. The Bozec has its own dedicated space on the newly refurbished space (4th Floor – Faculty of Dentistry) and is currently expanding. The Bozec Lab is working closely with CAMiLoD (https://www.camilod.ca/) and access to all the imaging facilities has been secured. In the Bozec lab, all students and PDRA are trained (by default) to use Atomic Force Microscopy with a high-level of proficiency and will be likely offered side-projects with industrial partner throughout their studies/research projects. Specific access to histopathology and tissue engineering laboratories is also covered by the lab. Quantitative Nano-Histology The Bozec lab is pioneering the development of a “quantitative nano-histology (QNH)” approach that can be applied to clinical practice with regards to diagnosis, staging and prognostication of HNSCC. QNH refers to the combination sub-micron structural imaging and mechanical analysis (by of AFM) performed directly on histological sections (unfixed – fresh with or without immuno-staining). Using an in-house developed approach, we have been able to define dermal structural and mechanical markers as a function of aging and skin fibrosis for example. In more recent investigations we have focused on human breast and check skin biopsies and were able to create a dataset comprising 50,000 topological images combined with over 26,000 mechanical measurements (unpublished). After being analyzed manually, this dataset is currently being reprocessed using a neural-network approach for more sophisticated assessment and interpretation. While we understand that AFM may constitute a robust and objective way to analyze histological samples for surface characterization as a way to complement standard histological procedures for skin, in particular, further research in the assessment of cancer tissue nanotopography by ultrastructure imaging of histological blocks using AFM is required. This approach is currently being expanded collaboratively to collagen fibrosis and connective disorders such as Elhers Danlos. Living-probe: Host-cell Interactions The definition and understanding of host-cell interactions is a key area of research in the field of antimicrobial resistance or disease transmission, for example. The possibility of deciphering the relationship between an invading cellular species within a surrounding healthy tissue would enhance current knowledge and would afford key advantages in terms of therapies or drug development. Over the last few years, we have been expanding our research in this area, as we have become extremely proficient in handling “living cells” with our AFMs. We are now able to not only investigate the morphological and mechanical properties of individual living cells or those grown within a scaffold (bacterium, fungus, fibroblast, human marrow stroma, for example), but we are now also able to functionalise AFM cantilevers with such cells whilst maintaining their viability. Thus, we are now investigating the mode of adhesion of various bacterial species on surfaces by elucidating the roles of single adhesins. This approach offers the possibility of studying a wide range of topics such as the onset of bacterial infections in host or the osseointegration of implants though STEM cell technology, for example. This field of living probe has also raised the interests of many sponsors (academics, commercial companies and national agencies). Some of the current drivers for this research are to understand bacterial adhesin dynamics, stratified biofilm formation, pathogen transmission and surface contamination.