Implantable smart microvasculature for assisted bone regeneration

这个合作项目的研究目标是通过引入一种模仿发育再生的智能可植入微血管系统来促进我们对骨骼再生修复的理解。研究方法是：1)开发集成三维微血管的微制造技术；2)展示智能微血管在体外的传感、逻辑和可控释放；3)在微血管中模拟生长因子的释放和细胞生长；4)体内移植的智能微血管用于骨再生的测试。智力优势：该项目将促进智能微血管的设计和微制造的知识，以控制生长因子的时空释放，模拟发育的骨形成。在骨愈合过程中，将分析功能性水凝胶微结构对生理刺激的响应，如pH和温度。这将与预测智能微血管系统的生长因子释放特征以及相关细胞生长和增殖以促进骨再生的建模工作相结合。更广泛的影响：理解作为生长因子在空间和时间中受控运输的组织再生过程是生物学中的一个基本挑战。这一基础研究预计将产生直接影响，如分析物控制和调制的药物和蛋白质输送、药物筛选和组织工程。私人机构将积极向当地社区宣传他们的研究成果，包括高中生和科学教师关于骨生物学和微型植入物辅助再生的基础知识。此外，还将为其他用户群体建立高分辨率微立体摄影服务，以探索创新的微血管设计。

The research objective of this collaborative project is advancing our understanding of regenerative repair of bones by introducing a smart implantable microvasculature, mimicking developmental regeneration. The research approaches are: 1) Developing microfabrication technologies for integration of three-dimensional microvasculature; 2)Demonstrating sensing, logic and controllable release with smart micovasculature in-vitro; 3)Modeling growth factor release and cell growth in microvasculature; 4) Testing of implanted smart microvasculature in vivo for bone regeneration.Intellectual Merit: The project will advance the knowledge of design and microfabrication of smart microvasculature for controlled temporal and spatial release of growth factors, mimicking developmental bone formation. The response of functional hydrogel microstructures in response to physiological stimuli, such as pH and temperature, will be analyzed, during the bone healing process. This will be coupled to modeling effort in predicting growth factor release characteristics from the smart microvasculature, and related cell growth and proliferation to enhance bone regeneration. Broader Impact: Understanding the process of tissue regeneration as a function of controlled transport of growth factors in space and time is a fundamental challenge in biology. This fundamental research is expected to have direct impact, such as analyte controlled and modulated drug and protein delivery, drug screening, and tissue engineering. The PIs will actively disseminate their research findings to the local community, including high school students and science teachers on the basics of bone biology and miniature implant for assisted regeneration. Also, a high resolution micro-stereolithography service will be established for other user groups to explore the innovative microvasculature design.