IDR: Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Mechanotransduction: An Investigation of Nano-Structured Injection Molded Polymeric Biointerfaces

这项跨学科研究（IDR）奖的研究目标是通过探索在具有纳米结构表面的模塑聚合物基质上培养人类干细胞的发展，共同推进纳米制造和生物医学科学。干细胞的成功分化和成熟对细胞植入治疗和组织工程至关重要。由于哺乳动物细胞受到其物理环境的显著影响，因此将定制的纳米结构表面结合到组织培养装置中，通过更有效地模拟体内情况，具有增强干细胞工程的巨大潜力。所采取的方法将是利用纳米级注射成型可靠和经济地生产细胞培养装置，专门为每种细胞表型设计。将使用完全批准的生物相容性聚合物，整个研究的模塑表面特征范围从亚微米到小到50纳米。人类间充质干细胞将首先进行研究，随着工作的发展，将包括其他类型的干细胞。如果成功，这项研究的好处将包括开发一种实用和更有效的途径，以最佳地开发人类干细胞，用于广泛的医学应用。这将极大地提高活跃在这一领域的美国生物工程公司的国际地位。此外，生物医学科学与纳米制造科学的完全耦合发展将为应对生物工程挑战建立一个新的范例。这将有利于制造业和生物医学界，前者需要将纳米制造科学的进步导向合适的应用，后者有许多重要的问题需要解决。这项研究还将通过每年纳入大量中学生和高中生的工作来支持未来科学劳动力的发展。这将使跨学科的科学进步在所有相关人员的心目中成为一种令人愉快和富有成效的规范。

The research objective of this Interdisciplinary Research (IDR) award is to collaboratively advance nanomanufacturing and biomedical science by exploring the development of human stem cells cultured on molded polymeric substrates with nanostructured surfaces. The successful differentiation and maturation of stem cells is critical to cell implantation therapeutics and tissue engineering. Since mammalian cells are significantly influenced by their physical environment, the incorporation of tailored nanostructured surfaces into tissue culture devices has great potential to enhance stem cell engineering by more effectively mimicking in vivo situations. The approach taken will be to utilize nanoscale injection molding to reliably and economically produce cell culture devices designed specifically for each cell phenotype of choice. Fully approved biocompatible polymers will be used, and molded surface features throughout the study will range from the sub-micron scale down to as small as 50 nanometers. Human mesenchymal stem cells will be studied initially, with other stem cell types included as the work evolves.If successful, the benefits of this research will include the development of a practical and more effective route to optimally develop human stem cells for a wide range of medical applications. This would dramatically enhance the international position of U.S. based bioengineering firms active in this field. In addition, the fully coupled advancement of biomedical science with nanomanufacturing science will establish a new paradigm for approaching bioengineering challenges. This will benefit both the manufacturing community that needs to direct nanoscale manufacturing science advancements toward appropriate applications and the biomedical community that has so many important problems to solve. The research will also bolster the development of the future scientific workforce through the inclusion of a significant number of middle and high school students in the work each year. This will establish interdisciplinary scientific advancement as an enjoyable and productive norm in the minds of all involved.