Protein-polysaccharide biomaterial complexes: characterization and innate immune responses

组织工程旨在替换受损的器官，并且总是需要再生失去的血管。 我们已经发现了一种新的血管再生方法，通过植入可生物降解的聚合物，刺激先天免疫系统释放血管生成因子。吞噬细胞是在我们的血液中循环的先天免疫细胞，其作用是识别和消除细菌和异物。有时，当吞噬细胞被激活时，它们会释放刺激新血管生长的因子。 需要更多的研究来了解植入的生物材料如何用于刺激先天免疫细胞的可预测的血管生成反应。所有可生物降解的材料在与体液接触后，都会获得蛋白质和其他因素的涂层，这些因素可能会产生治疗或病理后果。我们研究计划的目的是进一步了解免疫系统如何识别和响应不同电荷状态和溶解度的生物材料。为了实现我们的目标，我们需要更好地了解生物材料结构如何影响血浆蛋白和其他血液因子对聚合物表面的“生物污染”。 该研究计划的结果将导致开发新的医疗设备，提供更可预测和最佳的治疗效果。

Tissue engineering is intended to replace damaged organs, and invariably requires the regeneration of lost blood vessels. We have discovered a new avenue for regenerating blood vessels, by implanting biodegradable polymers that stimulate the innate immune system to release angiogenic factors. Phagocytes are innate immune cells that circulate in our blood stream, whose role is to recognize and eliminate bacteria and foreign materials. Sometimes when phagocytes are activated, they release factors that stimulate growth of new blood vessels. More research is needed to understand how implanted biomaterials can be used to stimulate a predictable angiogenic response by innate immune cells. All biodegradable materials, after coming into contact with body fluids, acquire a coating of proteins and other factors that can have therapeutic or pathological consequences. The aim of our research program is to further our understanding of how the immune system recognizes and responds to biomaterials of different charge state and solubility. To accomplish our goal we need to better understand how biomaterial structure influences "biofouling" of the polymer surface with plasma proteins and other blood factors. Results from this research program will result in the development of novel medical devices that offer a more predictable and optimal therapeutic effect.