CAREER: Immunologically Responsive Therapeutic Biomateirals to Modulate Wound Healing in the Nervous Systems: An Integrated Research and Education Plan

该职业奖由田纳西大学诺克斯维尔分校材料研究部生物材料项目颁发，旨在开发新型免疫反应生物材料，以防止组织植入引起的炎症。该项目的具体目标是：1)表面改性，实现不结垢；2)抗炎药的释放；3)抗炎因子或生长因子的表面固定化。这些具有免疫应答性的治疗性生物材料有望帮助伤口愈合过程并防止植入物的排斥反应。植入人体的生物材料的命运在很大程度上取决于这些生物材料引发的反应类型。植入物的理想结果是与局部宿主组织无缝融合，没有炎症和排斥反应。然而，一般来说，植入物会造成损伤，随后是炎症、异物反应，以及身体对植入物的可能排斥。我们的建议是通过在植入的生物材料中引入药物和生长因子来减少这些炎症反应。该项目的更广泛的影响是发展外展计划，使K-12学生和高中教师意识到生物材料的多学科研究，以及PI的研究生参与这些活动。PI还计划增加代表性不足的少数民族学生在STEM科目中的参与度。本项目旨在开发新型生物相容性材料，用于组织植入抑制免疫反应。此外，这些生物材料的表面将被修饰，以包括生长和抗炎因子，促进组织植入部位的伤口愈合。该项目的教育部分是开发新的研究生和本科生生物材料课程。社区外展活动包括为高中生举办的材料夏令营，为他们提供在PI实验室进行材料研究的实践经验。这个夏令营是由橡树岭国家实验室，Y-12国家安全综合体和ASM橡树岭分会共同创办的。PI和她的研究生将参与指导高中教师，这些教师将在夏季参加PI实验室的研究活动。

This CAREER award by the Biomaterials program in the Division of Materials Research to the University of Tennessee at Knoxville aims at developing novel immunologically responsive biomaterials to prevent inflammation due to tissue implants. Specific aims of the project are: 1) surface modification to achieve non-fouling; 2) release of anti-inflammatory agents; and 3) surface immobilization of anti-inflammatory factors or growth factors. These immunologically responsive therapeutic biomaterials are expected to help in the wound healing process and prevent the rejection of implants. The fate of biomaterials implanted in the human body largely depends on the types of reactions these biomaterials elicit. The ideal outcome for implants is a seamless integration with the local host tissue without inflammation and rejection. However, in general, the implants create an injury, followed by inflammation, foreign body reaction, and possible rejection of the implants by the body. This proposal is to decrease these inflammatory responses by introducing drugs and growth factors incorporated in the implanted biomaterials. The Broader Impact of the project is in the development of outreach programs to make K-12 students and high school teachers aware of multidisciplinary studies in biomaterials, and the involvement of the PI's graduate students in these activities. The PI also plans to increase the participation of underrepresented minority students in STEM subjects.This project is to develop novel biocompatible materials for potential applications in suppress immunological responses by tissue implants. In addition, surface of these biomaterials would be modified to include growth and anti-inflammatory factors that promote wound healing at the tissue implant site. The educational component of the project is in the development of new graduate and undergraduate courses in biomaterials. Community outreach activities involved Materials Summer Camp for high school students providing them with hands on experience in materials research in the PI's lab. This summer camp at the campus is cofounded by Oak Ridge National Lab, Y-12 National Security Complex and Oak Ridge Chapter of ASM. The PI and her graduate students will be involved in mentoring high school teachers and these techers will participate in research activities in the PI's lab during the summer months.