A Multi-Scale Approach to Understanding the Mechanical and Biochemical Behavior of Tissue Engineered Blood Vessels

为了制造功能性组织工程血管（TEBV），重要的是要了解管理结构-功能完整性的基本原则。模拟和控制机械和生物化学行为的能力对于工程功能TEBV的成功至关重要。本提案的总体目标是在细胞和组织水平上使用组合建模和实验方法来理解TEBV的机械和生物化学行为，将该行为与细胞外基质和血管平滑肌细胞的微观结构组分相关联，并应用这些原理来修改和控制TEBV的功能以用于特定的临床应用。该项目汇集了波士顿大学的跨学科研究人员团队，他们在先进的有限元建模，非线性固体力学，生物材料工程方面的专业知识，用于创建组织样结构，纳米纤维和原位生物物理细胞测定。这种综合的方法将能够深入了解TEBV的宏观力学和生物化学行为及其与微观结构成分的关系。该项目的成功完成将弥合基础研究与临床应用之间的差距。本项目的研究成果将使生物力学、生物工程和临床领域的研究人员受益匪浅。在教育方面，PI计划将几项教育举措纳入拟议的研究计划。PI互补的研究背景和技术将大大有利于通过本项目培养的本科生/研究生。

To make functional tissue engineered blood vessels (TEBVs), it is important to understand the underlying principles that govern structural-functional integrity. The ability to mimic and control the mechanical and biochemical behavior is critical for the success of engineering functional TEBVs. The overall goal of this proposal is to understand the mechanical and biochemical behavior of the TEBVs using combined modeling and experimental approaches at both the cellular and tissue level, relate this behavior to the microstructural components the extracellular matrix and vascular smooth muscle cells, and apply these principles to modify and control the functionality of TEBVs for specific clinical applications. This project brings together an interdisciplinary team of researchers at Boston University with combined expertise in advanced finite element modeling, nonlinear solid mechanics, biomaterials engineering for creating tissue-like constructs, nanofabrication and in situ biophysical cellular assays. This integrative approach will enable an in-depth understanding of the macroscopic mechanical and biochemical behavior of TEBVs and the relationship to their microstructural components. The successful completion of this project will bridge the gap between basic research and clinical applications. The research findings from this project will greatly benefit the researchers in biomechanics, bioengineering and clinical communities. Educationally, the PIs plan to incorporate several educational initiatives into the proposed research program. The PIs complementary research background and techniques will greatly benefit the undergraduate/ graduate students trained through this project.