CAREER: Immunologically Responsive Therapeutic Biomateirals to Modulate Wound Healing in the Nervous Systems: An Integrated Research and Education Plan

这一职业奖项由田纳西大学诺克斯维尔分校材料研究部的生物材料计划颁发，旨在开发新型免疫响应性生物材料，以防止组织植入引起的炎症。该项目的具体目标是：1)表面修饰以实现无污染；2)抗炎剂的释放；3)抗炎因子或生长因子的表面固定化。这些免疫响应性治疗性生物材料有望帮助伤口愈合过程，防止植入物的排斥反应。植入人体的生物材料的命运在很大程度上取决于这些生物材料引发的反应类型。植入物的理想结果是与局部宿主组织无缝结合，没有炎症和排斥反应。然而，通常情况下，植入物会造成伤害，随后是炎症、异物反应，并可能导致身体对植入物的排斥反应。这项提议是通过在植入的生物材料中引入药物和生长因子来减少这些炎症反应。该项目更广泛的影响是制定推广计划，使K-12学生和高中教师了解生物材料的多学科研究，并让PI的研究生参与这些活动。该项目还计划增加未被充分代表的少数族裔学生参与STEM科目。该项目旨在开发新的生物相容性材料，用于通过组织植入物抑制免疫反应的潜在应用。此外，这些生物材料的表面将被修饰，以包括促进组织植入部位伤口愈合的生长和抗炎因子。该项目的教育部分是开发新的生物材料研究生和本科生课程。社区外展活动包括为高中生举办材料夏令营，为他们提供在PI实验室进行材料研究的实践经验。这个校园夏令营是由橡树岭国家实验室、Y-12国家安全综合体和ASM橡树岭分会共同发起的。PI和她的研究生将参与指导高中教师，这些技术人员将在夏季几个月参加PI实验室的研究活动。

This CAREER award by the Biomaterials program in the Division of Materials Research to the University of Tennessee at Knoxville aims at developing novel immunologically responsive biomaterials to prevent inflammation due to tissue implants. Specific aims of the project are: 1) surface modification to achieve non-fouling; 2) release of anti-inflammatory agents; and 3) surface immobilization of anti-inflammatory factors or growth factors. These immunologically responsive therapeutic biomaterials are expected to help in the wound healing process and prevent the rejection of implants. The fate of biomaterials implanted in the human body largely depends on the types of reactions these biomaterials elicit. The ideal outcome for implants is a seamless integration with the local host tissue without inflammation and rejection. However, in general, the implants create an injury, followed by inflammation, foreign body reaction, and possible rejection of the implants by the body. This proposal is to decrease these inflammatory responses by introducing drugs and growth factors incorporated in the implanted biomaterials. The Broader Impact of the project is in the development of outreach programs to make K-12 students and high school teachers aware of multidisciplinary studies in biomaterials, and the involvement of the PI's graduate students in these activities. The PI also plans to increase the participation of underrepresented minority students in STEM subjects.This project is to develop novel biocompatible materials for potential applications in suppress immunological responses by tissue implants. In addition, surface of these biomaterials would be modified to include growth and anti-inflammatory factors that promote wound healing at the tissue implant site. The educational component of the project is in the development of new graduate and undergraduate courses in biomaterials. Community outreach activities involved Materials Summer Camp for high school students providing them with hands on experience in materials research in the PI's lab. This summer camp at the campus is cofounded by Oak Ridge National Lab, Y-12 National Security Complex and Oak Ridge Chapter of ASM. The PI and her graduate students will be involved in mentoring high school teachers and these techers will participate in research activities in the PI's lab during the summer months.