Novel Quantitative Technology for Tissue Engineering

了解细胞周围的机械电化学信号和组织内的溶质运输对于了解细胞生物学、组织生长和体内或体外的重塑至关重要。生物反应器在体外组织工程中是必不可少的，因为工程组织构建的环境是可以控制的。如果组织的环境和组织属性已知，则计算机模拟对于估计和预测组织或组织结构内的物理信号是有用的。然而，几乎没有一种技术能够在线表征工程组织的机械力-电化学性质，或者控制组织内的物理信号。拟议的研究活动将填补这一领域的空白。这项研究的长期目标是(1)在体外设计功能组织以用于体内植入，(2)了解结缔组织(如椎间盘)的机械力化学环境与组织生长(Le.生长规律)之间的关系。这项拟议的项目的目标是开发新型的生物反应器技术，可以在线监测生物反应器中组织生长过程中组织性质的变化。在这个项目中，将设计和制造一种新的生物反应器系统。将开发新的方法和技术来表征工程组织的机械力-电化学性质。

Knowledge of the mechano-electrochemical signals around the cells and solute transport within a tissue is crucial to understanding cell biology, tissue growth and remodeling in vivo or in vitro. Bioreactors are essential for tissue engineering in vitro as the environment of engineered tissue construct could be controlled. Computer simulations are useful for estimation and prediction of the physical signals within the tissue or tissue construct if the environment of the tissue and the tissue properties are known. However, there is virtually no technology which is capable of online characterizing mechano-electrochemical properties of engineered tissue, or controlling physical signals within the tissue. The proposed research activities will fill the gap in this area. The longterm goals of this study are (1) to engineer functional tissues in vitro for implantation in vivo, and (2) to understand the relationship between mechano-chemical environment and tissue growth (Le., growth laws) for connective (e,g" intervertebral disc) tissues. The objective of this proposed project is to develop novel, bioreactor technology that could online monitor the changes in tissue properties as tissue growth in the bioreactor. In this project, a new bioreactor system will be designed and fabricated. New methods and techniques for characterizing of mechano-electrochemical properties of the engineered tissue will be developed.