"Direct Write" Techniques to Create Submicron, Arbitrary Protein Structures within Hyaluronan Hydrogels

[au:]克里斯汀·施密特，德克萨斯大学奥斯汀分校智力价值这个项目的目标是开发新的技术来控制三维亚细胞水平的生物线索。该领域的其他研究无法在亚微米尺度和3D水凝胶系统中创建如此复杂的结构。这个项目是真正独特的，将为再生医学和更多的生理，3D体外培养系统的支架开发提供一个重要的平台。此外，本研究特别针对引导轴突生长，这对于促进周围和中枢神经系统的再生具有潜在的意义。这一跨学科研究是化学和生物医学工程、材料科学、化学、光学/物理和生物学的交叉。两名研究生和几名本科生将进行拟议的研究。PI和Co-PI将与所有学生一对一地工作，每个本科生也将与一名研究生导师配对，后者将帮助指导研究和监督培训。此外，除了贝克曼学者计划和韦尔奇暑期学者计划等其他科学指导计划外，PI和Co-PI的研究小组还积极参与K-12外展计划（例如，妇女和少数族裔项目），作为教育年轻学生生物工程的一种手段。

CBET-0829166Christine Schmidt, University of Texas at AustinIntellectual merit The goal of this project is to develop novel techniques for controlling sub-cellular level biological cues in 3D. Other studies in this area have been unable to create such intricate architecture, at the submicron scale, and within 3D hydrogel systems. This project is truly unique and will provide an important platform for developing scaffolds for regenerative medicine and for more physiological, 3D in vitro culture systems. In addition, this research is particularly targeted for guiding axonal growth, which has potential implications for promoting regeneration in both the peripheral and central nervous systems.Broader impacts This interdisciplinary research is at the intersection of chemical and biomedical engineering, materials science, chemistry, optics/physics, and biology. Two graduate students and several undergraduate students will conduct the proposed research. The PI and Co-PI will work one-on-one with all students and each undergraduate student will also be paired with a graduate student mentor who will help guide research and oversee training. Furthermore, the PI and Co-PI's research groups are active in K-12 outreach programs (e.g., women and minority-based programs) as a means to educate young students about bioengineering, in addition to other scientific mentoring programs such as the Beckman Scholars Program and the Welch Summer Scholar Program.