A Biomaterials Strategy to Maintain Functionality in Osteoarthritic Cartilage

非技术部分合成生物材料在开发用于修复软组织（如人体软骨、肌腱、瓣膜和血管）的创新解决方案方面至关重要。新的聚合物组合物和具有新性质的聚合物将促进医疗装置和组织修复领域的快速发展。科学进步，如NSF赞助的这项研究中所描述的，将可能导致数百万患有骨关节炎和其他软组织退化引起的疾病的美国人的生活得到切实改善。此外，这些结果将支持美国制药设备行业，这些行业在医疗聚合物市场中发挥着重要作用。美国公司在300亿B产业中占有45%的份额。NSF的资金将用于支持本科生和研究生，他们将受益于尖端的跨学科研究和教育经验，包括生物材料和聚合物化学的培训。学生将被鼓励独立和创造性地思考，同时认识到与其他专家合作的重要性（例如，材料科学家、病理学家、生物医学工程师、外科医生、企业家和专利律师）。这些活动将通过培养对基础研究的热情，同时教育和培训下一代学术研究和生物技术劳动力，为积极的社会成果做出贡献。 生物材料在软组织修复中备受追捧。然而，对于人体软骨、肌腱、韧带、括约肌、瓣膜和血管的机械磨损或失效，存在有限的解决方案，其可由老化、疾病或损伤引起。因此，非常需要新的和创新的方法来使用合成生物材料恢复组织的材料和功能特性。在NSF的资助下，PI（Grinstaff）和他的团队将评估合成亲水性生物相容性聚合物和骨关节炎软骨组织之间形成的互穿聚合物网络（IPN）的性能，作为案例研究。合成聚合物增强了组织，并像混凝土中的钢筋一样增强了材料。关键的初步数据支持这一新想法和拟议的研究，建立了良好表征的材料和严格的实验设计，以及必要的跨学科合作和专业知识（生物材料，组织培养，生物力学等）。完成这些研究。这项高度跨学科和前沿的研究也将为受过教育和培训的本科生和研究生在工业和学术界就业做好准备。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并被认为值得通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估来支持。

Non-Technical sectionSynthetic biomaterials are of critical importance in developing innovative solutions for the repair of soft tissues, such as human cartilage, tendons, valves, and blood vessels. New polymer compositions and polymers with novel properties will precipitate rapid progress in medical device and tissue repair areas. Scientific advances, such as those described in this NSF sponsored research, will potentially lead to tangible improvement in the lives of millions of Americans suffering from osteoarthritis, and other diseases caused by soft tissue degradation. Furthermore, the outcomes will support US pharmaceutical device industries, which play an important role in medical polymers market. US companies have 45% share of a 300 B industry. NSF funding will be used to support undergraduate and graduate students, who will benefit from a cutting-edge interdisciplinary research and educational experience that encompasses training in biomaterials and polymer chemistry. Students will be encouraged to think independently and creatively while recognizing the importance of collaborating with other experts (e.g., materials scientists, pathologist, biomedical engineers, surgeons, entrepreneurs and patent lawyers). These activities will contribute to positive societal outcomes by fostering excitement for fundamental research while educating and training the next generation of academic research and biotechnology workforce.Technical section. Biomaterials are highly sought-after for the repair of soft tissues. However, there are limited solutions to the mechanical wear or failure of human cartilage, tendons, ligaments, sphincters, valves, and blood vessels, which can be caused by aging, disease, or injury. Consequently, there is significant need for new and innovative approaches to restore the material and functional properties of tissues using synthetic biomaterials. With NSF funding, the PI (Grinstaff) and his team will evaluate the performance of an interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) formed between a synthetic hydrophilic biocompatible polymer and osteoarthritic cartilage tissue, as a case study. The synthetic polymer reinforces the tissue and acts like rebar steel in concrete to strengthen the material. Key preliminary data support this new idea and the proposed studies, well-characterized materials and rigorous experimental designs are established, and essential cross-disciplinary collaborations and expertise (biomaterials, tissue culture, biomechanics, etc.) are in place to accomplish the studies. This highly interdisciplinary and cutting-edge research will also prepare educated and trained undergraduate and graduate students for employment in industry and academia.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.