Rapid Fabrication of Bio-Inspired Microvascular Networks

该奖项由德克萨斯工程实验站材料研究分部的生物材料计划颁发，旨在开展基础研究，旨在建立先进的科学，能够以器官级别的大小和规模快速且廉价地将三维血管网络嵌入生物材料支架内。这项拟议的研究将通过以下方式克服现有的知识空白：1)应用新型静电放电工艺，在生物医学相关的聚合物基质中构建具有可控大小和分支特性的微血管网络；2)开发新的加工步骤，进一步优化分支微通道的大小、空间分布和表面特征，以便当它们嵌入多孔支架时，能够为细胞培养提供最佳的传输；3)建立网络传输氧气、营养物质和废物的能力；以及4)进行细胞培养实验，以确定组织工程的最佳参数范围。除了为组织工程的革命性进展奠定基础外，该项目还将培养材料科学、生物医学工程和化学工程前沿领域的研究生和本科生。通过利用与德克萨斯农工大学国家电子束研究中心的合作关系，将实现广泛的教育影响，在德克萨斯州小学、初中和高中水平的学生定期参观期间，这项研究将作为材料展示的永久部分突出地纳入其中。设计人造组织和器官结构的技术的发展，适合于植入和替换体内受损或患病的对应物，有可能拯救无数人的生命，并催化医学领域的一场革命。但这还不可能的一个关键原因是缺乏一种有效的过程来在器官级别、大小和规模的生物兼容基质材料中构建三维血管网络。这项拟议的研究将以一种截然不同的方式满足这一需求，为建立大规模生产血管组织支架的新的、强大的方法奠定基础。这里开发的静电放电方法(类似于捕捉塑料块中的闪电)将使快速构建这些网络成为可能，同时提供独特且相关的教育体验，介绍并激发学生对生物材料和组织工程前沿领域的兴趣。通过与德克萨斯州农工大学国家电子束研究中心的合作，该项目将产生广泛的教育影响，该项目的研究成果将在德克萨斯州各地的小学、初中和高中生的定期参观中展示。

This award by the Biomaterials program in the Division of Materials Research to Texas Engineering Experiment Station is to carry out fundamental studies aimed at establishing advanced sciences capable of rapidly and inexpensively embedding 3-D vascular networks inside biomaterial scaffolds at organ-level size and scales. This proposed research will overcome existing knowledge gaps by: 1) applying a novel electrostatic discharge process to construct microvascular networks with controlled size and branching characteristics in biomedically relevant polymeric substrates; 2) developing new processing steps that further refine the size, spatial distribution, and surface characteristics of the branched microchannels so that they can deliver optimal transport for cell culture when embedded in porous scaffolds; 3) establishing the capacity of the networks for transport of oxygen, nutrients, and waste; and 4) performing cell culture experiments to determine the optimal range of parameters for tissue engineering. In addition to laying a foundation for a revolutionary step forward in tissue engineering, this project will train graduate and undergraduate students in areas at the frontiers of materials science, biomedical engineering, and chemical engineering. A broad educational impact will be achieved by leveraging a partnership with the National Center for Electron Beam Research at Texas A&M, where this research will be prominently incorporated as a permanent part of the materials showcase during regular tours given to students from across Texas at the elementary, junior-high, and high-school levels. The development of technology to engineer artificial tissue and organ structures suitable for implantation and replacement of damaged or diseased counterparts in the body has the potential to save countless lives and catalyze a revolution the field of medicine. But a key reason this is not yet possible is the lack of an efficient process to construct 3-D vascular networks in biocompatible substrate materials at organ-level size and scale. The proposed research will address this need in a radically different way that can lay a foundation to establish new and powerful methods for mass-production of vascularized tissue scaffolds. The electrostatic discharge approach developed here (akin to capturing lightning inside a plastic block) will make it possible to rapidly construct these networks, while simultaneously providing unique and relatable educational experiences that introduce and stimulate student interest in areas at the frontiers of biomaterials and tissue engineering. A broad educational impact will be achieved by leveraging a partnership with the National Center for Electron Beam Research at Texas A&M, where research results from this project will be showcased during regular tours given to elementary, junior-high, and high-school students from across Texas.