Multi-Tissue Craniofacial Engineering using 3D-BMP9-Notch-Synergized Graphene Citrate Composite Scaffolds

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PROJECT ABSTRACT An attractive modality for bone and soft tissue regeneration involves the use of pluripotent mesenchymal stem cells that are induced by osteogenic and dermogenic cues. Furthermore, the delivery of engineered cells within 3D-printed, “smart” scaffolds tailored to any shape would make an ideal approach to rapidly repair battlefield injuries. Our overall goal is to investigate capacity of BMP-9-induced, Notch pathway-synergized human adult- derived urine stem cells seeded onto unique, polydiocitrate-graphene hybrid scaffolds, to heal critical-sized multi- tissue defects in the rat scalp/cranium. This project is based on the hypothesis that the combination of BMP-9- Notch-induced stem cell osteogenesis and a three-dimensional scaffold capable of hosting stem cell differentiation along osteogenic and dermogenic lineages will lead to adequate reconstruction of critical-sized multi-tissue craniofacial defects. To test this hypothesis, the following specific aims are proposed: 1) To investigate the mechanisms by which BMP9 induced human urine progenitor stem cells (HUPs) repair trauma- induced cranial defects in vivo; 2) To develop structural composite scaffolds that can be customized to fit and regenerate a critical-sized skin and bone calvarial defect in a rodent model. These specific aims will be addressed by the following experimental design: 1) Treatment of critical-sized rat cranial defects with iHUPs transduced with BMP9 and abrogation of defect healing with Notch inhibition and; 2) Design and incorporation of 3D-printable mPOC-graphene/A5G81-PPCN hybrid scaffolds using micro-CLIP technology and testing of scaffold permutations in a novel multi-tissue rat scalp-cranial defect.