Rapid Fabrication of Bio-Inspired Microvascular Networks

材料研究部生物材料计划授予德克萨斯工程实验站的这项奖项旨在开展基础研究，旨在建立能够以器官级尺寸和规模快速廉价地将3D血管网络嵌入生物材料支架内的先进科学。该研究将通过以下方法克服现有的知识空白：1）应用新型静电放电过程在生物医学相关的聚合物基质中构建具有可控尺寸和分支特性的微血管网络; 2）开发新的加工步骤，进一步细化尺寸，空间分布，和表面特性，使得它们在嵌入多孔支架中时可以为细胞培养物提供最佳的运输; 3）建立运输氧气、营养物和废物的网络的能力;以及4）进行细胞培养实验以确定用于组织工程的参数的最佳范围。除了为组织工程的革命性进展奠定基础外，该项目还将培训材料科学、生物医学工程和化学工程前沿领域的研究生和本科生。一个广泛的教育影响将通过利用与国家电子束研究中心在得克萨斯州的合作伙伴关系，在那里这项研究将突出纳入作为材料展示的一个永久性的一部分，在定期图尔斯参观给来自德克萨斯州各地的学生在小学，初中和高中的水平。开发适合植入和替换体内受损或患病对应物的人工组织和器官结构的技术，有可能挽救无数生命，并催化医学领域的革命。但这还不可能的一个关键原因是缺乏一个有效的过程来构建器官水平尺寸和规模的生物相容性基质材料的3-D血管网络。拟议的研究将以一种完全不同的方式解决这一需求，为建立大规模生产血管化组织支架的新的强大方法奠定基础。这里开发的静电放电方法（类似于在塑料块内捕获闪电）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。一个广泛的教育影响将通过利用与国家电子束研究中心在得克萨斯州的合作伙伴关系，从这个项目的研究成果将展示在定期图尔斯参观给小学，初中和高中学生从得克萨斯州各地。

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.