ITR: Computer-Aided Tissue Engineering

该补助金为开发计算机辅助组织工程（CATE）方法提供资金，用于设计和制造承重组织支架。CATE方法提供了新的模型和计算算法，解决了组织支架的多个设计约束，包括结构完整性（植入所需），微架构（用于细胞生长，运输和组织形成）和支架可制造性。项目工作包括：1）将组织形态建模和表示为基于CAD的特征基元，并设计基于特征的支架构建块数据库：2）开发仿生设计框架和接口，将复杂的支架设计转移到支架制造;以及3）开发用于分布的计算算法-基于映射，将用于脚手架结构和运输设计优化。如果成功，该项目将导致开发新的技术和工具，用于设计和制造承重组织支架和替代品。这些建模和设计技术将促进国家的最先进的计算机辅助技术的应用，以新兴的组织工程问题。该项目将积极参与行业，政府和医疗机构，包括与支架生产的国家和国际标准制定者，领先的组织工程制造商以及在组织支架和替代应用方面具有专业知识的主要医疗中心合作。该项目还将编制联合课程，将计算机科学、机械工程和生物工程结合起来，以教育对设计、制造和应用组织替代品感兴趣的未来一代科学家和工程师。

This grant provides funding for the development of a computer-aide tissue engineering (CATE) approach for design and fabrication of load bearing tissue scaffolds. The CATE approach provides novel models and computational algorithms that address multiple design constraints for tissue scaffold, including the structural integrity (needed for implantation), micro-architecture (for cell growth, transport and tissue formation), and the scaffold manufacturability. The project work involves: 1) the modeling and representation of tissue morphologies as CAD based feature primitives, and the design of feature-based scaffold building block database; 2) the development of a biomimetic design framework and the interface to transfer intricate scaffold design towards the scaffold fabrication; and 3) the development of a computational algorithm for distribution-based mapping that will be used for scaffold structural and transport design optimization. If successful, this project will lead to developing new techniques and tools for the design and fabrication of load bearing tissue scaffolds and replacements. These modeling and design techniques will facilitate the application of state-of-art computer-aided technologies to emerging tissue engineering problems. The project will actively engage industry, government and medical institutions, including collaborations with the developers of national and international standards for scaffold production, the leading tissue engineering manufacturer, and a major medical center with expertise in tissue scaffold and replacement application. This project will also produce joint curricula, integrating computer science, mechanical engineering and bioengineering to educate future generation of scientists and engineers who are interested in pursuing design, manufacturing and application of tissue substitutes.