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

要制造功能性组织工程血管(TEBV)，重要的是要了解支配结构-功能完整性的基本原理。模拟和控制机械和生化行为的能力是工程功能性TEBV成功的关键。这项建议的总体目标是在细胞和组织水平上使用联合建模和实验方法了解TEBV的机械和生化行为，将这种行为与微结构成分细胞外基质和血管平滑肌细胞联系起来，并应用这些原则来修改和控制特定临床应用的TEBV的功能。该项目汇集了波士顿大学的一个跨学科研究团队，他们拥有先进的有限元建模、非线性固体力学、创建组织状结构的生物材料工程、纳米制造和原位生物物理细胞分析方面的专业知识。这种综合的方法将使人们能够深入了解TEBV的宏观机械和生化行为以及与其微观结构成分的关系。该项目的成功完成将弥合基础研究和临床应用之间的差距。该项目的研究成果将极大地惠及生物力学、生物工程和临床界的研究人员。在教育方面，私人投资机构计划将几项教育举措纳入拟议的研究计划。通过这一项目培养的本科生/研究生将极大地受益于PIS的互补研究背景和技术。

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.