NOVEL TISSUE ENGINEERING MATRICES WITH CONTROLLED MICROS

描述 (改编自申请人的摘要)这项工作的总体目标 建议开发用于组织工程的新型聚合物网络， 获得修复或更换所需的物理化学性质 颅面和骨科软骨。尤其是这项提案， 重点介绍了受控智能矩阵的发展阶段 允许细胞印迹的架构和凝胶技术 结构在最终的网络微观结构中。未来的全球假设是 测试表明，基质材料将在组织中提供优越的性能 工程软骨，当它们被设计成：1)匹配物理 和天然软骨的力学性能；2)结合细胞 水凝胶孔隙中的结构信息；以及3)允许容易的结构 以及通过光化学进行化学修饰。 具体地说，本研究的目的如下。具体目标1： 开发基于聚乙烯醇(PVA)的水凝胶基质 受控分子体系结构，允许智能工程 性能，如网格大小、机械性能、亲水性和 可降解性。具体目标2：进一步修改上述PVA 具有促进引发剂作用的新型光接枝技术的水凝胶 亲水性单体的自由胶凝和接枝，以改善其性能 免疫保护性能和机械稳定性。具体目标3至 评估这些材料的细胞相容性(例如软骨细胞 增殖和细胞外基质的形成)以及它们在 矫正软骨缺陷以恢复功能(例如，机械的 并最终形成完整的组织)。

DESCRIPTION (Adapted from the applicant's abstract) The overall objective of this proposal is to develop novel polymer networks for tissue engineering that elicit desired physicochemical properties for the repair or replacement of craniofacial and orthopaedic cartilage. In particular, this proposal focuses on the development stage of intelligent matrices with controlled architectures and gelling techniques that allow imprinting of the cellular structure in the final network microstructure. The global hypothesis to be tested is that matrix materials will provide superior performance in tissue engineering cartilage when they are engineered to: 1) match the physical and mechanical properties of native cartilage; 2) incorporate cellular structural information in the hydrogel pores; and 3) allow easy structural and chemical modification through photochemistry. Specifically, the aims of the research are as follows. Specific Aim 1: to develop hydrogel matrices based on poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) which have controlled molecular architecture that allows intelligent engineering of properties such as mesh size, mechanical behavior, hydrophilicity, and degradability. Specific Aim 2: to modify further the aforementioned PVA hydrogels with a novel photografting technique which facilitates initiator free gelation and grafting of hydrophilic monomers to improve the immunoprotective properties and mechanical stabilization. Specific Aim 3 to evaluate these materials for their cellular compatibility (e.g., chondrocyte proliferation and extracellular matrix formation) and their performance in the correction of a cartilage defect to restore function (e.g., mechanical and eventual integrated tissue formation).