US-Switzerland Cooperative Research: Protein Scaffold for Dual Differentiation

0436490Kaplan这项由塔夫茨大学的David L.Kaplan和瑞士苏黎世联邦理工学院(ETH)的Lorenz Meinel开展的为期三年的美国-瑞士合作研究项目，涉及对新型蛋白质生物材料基质的研究。其目的是将三维丝素生物材料中的蛋白质支架设计结构与药物释放动力学相关联，以控制组织特定的结果。智力价值该研究将进一步了解一类具有独特机械和生物性能的基于蛋白质的三维丝质生物材料。研究人员将在体外成人干细胞中用药物输送系统使丝质生物材料功能化，旨在分化为骨和软骨谱系。它们将解决药物释放动力学和基质的相关机械性能，以适应骨和软骨组织的特殊要求。这将通过优化3D丝质支架、控制其孔隙率和药物输送方式来实现。布罗德影响拟议的研究有可能创造出应用于骨和软骨组织工程以及骨和软骨界面形成的新型生物材料。教育是一个关键组成部分。美国学生将有机会在一个涉及材料科学和工程、生物和化学的多学科项目中互动。他们将发展在国际研究环境中取得成功所需的技能。此外，这项研究的见解将被纳入塔夫茨大学和ETH提供的课程和专门讲座。

0436490KaplanThis three-year US-Switzerland cooperative research project between David L. Kaplan of Tufts University and Lorenz Meinel of the Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich, Switzerland, addresses studies of novel protein biomaterial matrices. The objective is to correlate the protein scaffold design structure in 3D silk biomaterials with drug delivery kinetics to control tissue specific outcomes.Intellectual MeritThe study will further understanding of a new family of protein based 3D silk biomaterials that have unique mechanical and biological properties. The investigators will functionalize silk biomaterials with drug delivery systems in in vitro adult human stem cells aimed at differentiation for bone and cartilage lineages. They will address drug delivery kinetics and associated mechanical properties of the matrices in order to accommodate the specific requirements of both the bone and cartilage tissues. This will be accomplished through optimization of the 3D silk scaffolds, control of their porosity and the mode of drug delivery.Broader ImpactsThe proposed research has potential for creating novel biomaterials for application to bone and cartilage tissue engineering and formation of bone and cartilage interfaces. Education is a key component. U.S. students will have an opportunity to interact in a multidisciplinary program that involves materials science and engineering, biology and chemistry. They will develop the skills needed to succeed in an international research environment. In addition the insights from the research will be included in courses and specialized lectures offered at Tufts University and ETH.