NIRT: Biomimetic Nanostructured Medical Adhesives

0609182LangerThis proposal was received in response to Nanoscale Science and Engineering initiative NSF 05-601 category NIRT A.本研究的目的是纳米制造具有良好定义的表面形态的生物界面材料。通过在纳米尺度上控制生物相容性聚合物的表面特征，并通过系统地了解纳米形貌如何影响对生物组织的粘附，将开发出一类新的自粘附纳米结构生物材料。使用纳米模塑技术，将产生类似壁虎手掌上的毛发或刮刀的柱，这将显著增加表面积，并通过增加的货车德瓦尔斯和毛细管相互作用使这些材料具有粘合性。通过使用柔软的柔性材料，纳米结构表面应该容易地符合不规则形状的表面，例如在体内遇到的那些，从而最大化界面处的分子相互作用。预计这些材料将很容易转移到广泛的微创医疗中，考虑到在日常外科实践中的潜在应用，这些材料可以通过减少创伤性组织处理、减少过度出血和减少手术时间来减少手术并发症，如感染。通过提供快速密封组织并将组织粘合在一起的新方法，这项工作可以通过减少与许多常见医疗程序相关的并发症从而提高生活质量来影响社会。除了外科应用之外，所提出的技术在替代器官的组织工程领域中也是潜在有用的，其中各种组织之间的粘附对于适当的功能是必不可少的。作为一个主要组成部分或我们的推广计划，本科生将协助开发一个网站，以提高人们对医学纳米技术的认识。为了促进研究和教育的融合，这项工作的主要成果将在波士顿科学博物馆向农村和城际高中学生以及公众展示。

0609182LangerThis proposal was received in response to Nanoscale Science and Engineering initiative NSF 05-601 category NIRT A. The objective of this research is to nanofabricate biologically interfacing materials with well defined surface morphologies. Through controlling the surface features of biocompatible polymers on the nanoscale, and through systematically developing an understanding of how nanotopography influences adhesion to biological tissues, a new class of self-adhesive nano-structured biomaterials will be developed. Using nano-molding techniques, pillars resembling hairs or spatulaeon the palms of geckos will be created which will substantially increase the surface area and render these materials adhesive through increased van der Waals and capillary interactions. Through using soft flexible materials, the nanostructured surfaces should easily conform to irregularly shaped surfaces, such as those encountered in the body, thereby maximizing molecular interactions at the interface. It is anticipated that these materials will be readily transferable into a wide range of minimally invasive medical treatments.Considering potential applications in daily surgical practice, these materials may decrease surgical complications, such as infection, by reducing traumatic tissue handling, reducing excessive bleeding, and reducing operating times. Through providing new methods to quickly seal tissues and to bond tissues together, this work may impact society by reducing complications associated with many common medical procedures thereby improving the quality of life. In addition to surgical applications, the proposed technology is potentially useful in areas from tissue engineering of replacement organs, where adhesion between various tissues is essential for proper function. As a primary component or our outreach program, undergraduate students will assist in the development of a website to increase awareness of nanotechnology in medicine. To foster integration of research and education, key results from this work will be presented to rural and intercity high school students and to the general public at the Boston Museum of Science.