Bioerodible Matrices for Bone Tissue Engineering

0201923 Laurencin这项研究工作的目的是开发有用的仿生骨结构，同时进一步加深我们对决定这些设计成功的重要因素的基本理解。一个多学科的组织工程方法是遵循使用的原则，从化学，机械，材料工程以及细胞和分子生物学。这类结构的发展有望在骨不连移植、外科关节融合术、颅面缺损和假体植入物和/或植入物涂层等方面具有临床应用。本研究项目建立在主要研究者自1990年以来指导的一系列研究项目的基础上。这个新项目旨在设计，开发和优化用于骨修复的三维基质。第一个目的是探索新的聚合物-陶瓷结构的发展，通过直接合成和将无定形磷酸钙掺入用于形成基质的微球，以及优化这些新的复合微球周围的物理化学参数。在第二个目标中，还将进一步研究生长因子的递送，通过将蛋白质和因子掺入基质中来建立先前的工作，这可以增强细胞内皮化和骨生长。最后，在第三个目标中，将利用根据目标1和2设计的结构进行广泛的体内研究，特别关注愈合缺损的机械强度以及缺损部位的短期和长期组织学和组织形态计量学。这项工作的研究已经并将继续提供对聚合物和陶瓷化学的更好理解，因为它涉及细胞反应，基质制造，和最终的基质性能（体外和体内）。 骨组织工程基质的发展，除了促进我们的基础科学知识，可能导致骨缺损愈合的移植材料，从而提供直接的社会效益。作为美国生物工程领域少数代表性不足的少数民族首席研究员之一，首席研究员致力于鼓励目前在科学领域代表性不足的年轻少数民族本科生和研究生的学术成长。

0201923LaurencinThis research effort is aimed at developing useful biomimetic constructs for bone while furthering our fundamental understanding of factors important in determining the success of these designs. A multidisciplinary tissue engineering approach is to be followed using principles from chemical, mechanical, and materials engineering as well as cell and molecular biology. The development of constructs of this sort is expected to have clinical applications in grafting of non-unions, surgical arthrodeses, cranio-facial defects, and prosthetic implants and/or implant coatings.This research project builds on the knowledge produced during a series of research projects directed by the Principal Investigator dating from 1990. This new project seeks to design, develop and optimize three-dimensional matrices for use in bone repair. The first aim is to explore the development of new polymer-ceramic constructs fabricated by direct synthesis and incorporation of amorphous calcium phosphate into microspheres used to form the matrix, as well as optimize physicochemical parameters surrounding these new composite microspheres. In the second aim, the delivery of growth factors will also be studied further, building on the previous work by incorporating proteins and factors into the matrix that may enhance cellular endothelialization and bone growth. Finally, in the third aim, extensive in vivo studies will be performed utilizing the constructs designed from aims 1 and 2, paying careful attention to the mechanical strength of the healing defect and the short- and long-term histology and histomorphometry of the defect site.From a basic science standpoint, studies under this work have provided and will continue to provide a better understanding of polymer and ceramic chemistry as it relates to cellular response, matrix fabrication, and ultimate matrix performance (both in vitro and in vivo). In addition to furthering our basic science knowledge, the development of matrices for bone tissue engineering may lead to graft materials for healing bony defects, and thus provide direct benefits to society. As one of only a handful of underrepresented minority principal investigators in bioengineering in America, the Principal Investigator is committed to encouraging the academic growth of younger minority undergraduate and graduate students currently so underrepresented in science.