Protein-polysaccharide biomaterial complexes: characterization and innate immune responses

组织工程学的目的是取代受损的器官，而且总是需要再生失去的血管。我们发现了一种再生血管的新途径，通过植入可生物降解的聚合物来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，其作用是识别和清除细菌和异物。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通过先天性免疫细胞刺激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，都会获得一层蛋白质和其他可能产生治疗或病理后果的因素。我们研究计划的目的是加深我们对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的理解。为了实现我们的目标，我们需要更好地了解生物材料的结构如何影响聚合物表面与血浆蛋白和其他血液因素的“生物污垢”。这项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.