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植入式微血管系统来推进我们对骨骼再生修复的理解。研究方向为：1)开发三维微血管集成微加工技术；2)智能微血管体外传感、逻辑和可控释放演示；3)模拟微血管中生长因子释放和细胞生长；4)植入式智能微血管在体内骨再生试验。智力优势：该项目将推进智能微血管的设计和微制造知识，以控制生长因子的时空释放，模拟发育性骨形成。在骨愈合过程中，将分析功能性水凝胶微结构对生理刺激（如pH值和温度）的反应。这将与预测智能微血管中生长因子释放特性的建模工作相结合，以及相关的细胞生长和增殖，以增强骨再生。更广泛的影响：将组织再生过程理解为生长因子在空间和时间上的受控运输是生物学的一个基本挑战。这一基础研究有望在分析物控制和调节药物和蛋白质递送、药物筛选和组织工程等方面产生直接影响。他们将积极向高中学生和科学教师等当地社区宣传有关骨骼生物学基础和辅助再生微型植入物的研究成果。同时，为其他用户群体建立高分辨率微立体光刻服务，探索创新微血管设计。

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.