Development of Multiferroic Nanocomposites for 3D Electroactive Cell Scaffolds

非技术性：该奖项由材料研究部的生物材料项目授予佛罗里达大学，由化学、生物工程、环境和运输系统部门(ENG)的纳米生物传感器项目共同资助。该项目的目标是开发能够响应于人体可渗透的外加磁场而产生局部电场的新型材料。电场在人体的许多过程中扮演着关键的角色，从我们大脑的神经回路，到人们如何看到和听到等等。然而，缺乏一种非侵入性的方法，其中一个人可以远程施加电场到身体上。该项目的主要重点是开发新的方法来制备新型材料，这些材料能够在外加磁场的作用下产生局部电场，这些材料将被整合到神经组织工程的支架中。该项目在技术上的更广泛影响是开发新材料，这些材料可能导致治疗神经系统疾病、组织再生和修复的全新方法。除了该计划的技术影响外，还将开展外联活动，以促进妇女参与科学，采取一系列方法，面向从小学到研究生的学生。在多样性方面，原则调查员将加强招收和留住从本科到学术生涯中代表性不足的少数族裔学生。这些活动将与东南研究生教育联盟和校园教授项目合作进行。技术：电场在广泛的生物过程中发挥着重要作用，包括产前发育、细胞信号、神经萌发、伤口愈合等。因此，已经开发出一系列能够将电场传递到人体的设备。然而，目前还不可能以非侵入性的方式将电场施加到身体内部。有了这个奖项，研究人员计划通过开发基于三维多铁纳米复合材料的细胞支架来克服这一限制。多铁性复合材料是一种将多种类型的铁性有序耦合在一起的材料，这导致了包括磁电效应在内的新类型的有序化。例如，磁电多铁材料能够响应于施加的磁场而产生电场，该磁场对物体是可渗透的。该项目的主要目标是合成生物相容的多铁性纳米材料，并将其整合到生物聚合物水凝胶中。在开发出生物兼容的电活性复合支架后，研究人员将研究电场与细胞命运之间的关系。通过在生物聚合物支架中加入多铁材料，该项目寻求组装一种完全模拟自然组织的化学、形貌、机械和电学特性的细胞支架材料。拟议的研究是多学科的，涉及不同系的教职员工之间的合作，如化学、生物医学工程和材料科学与工程系。通过这种合作，学生们将接触到超越研究小组和学科的研究项目的创造性思维和合作共同建议。

Nontechnical: This award by the Biomaterials program in the Division of Materials Research to University of Florida is cofunded by the Nano- Biosensor program in the Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental, and Transport Systems (ENG). The goal of this project is to develop new types of materials that are capable of generating a local electric field in response to an applied magnetic field, which the human body is permeable to. Electric fields play a critical role in many of the body processes, ranging from the neural circuitry of our brains, to how one sees and hears among others. However, there is a lack of a non-invasive method in which one may apply electric fields remotely to the body. The main focus of this project is in developing novel methods to prepare new types of materials that are capable of generating a local electric field in response to an applied external magnetic field, and these materials will be incorporated into scaffolds for neural tissue engineering. The technological broader impact of the project is in developing novel materials that could lead to an entirely new way of treating nervous system diseases, tissue regeneration and repair. In addition to the technical impact of this program, outreach events will be developed to promote the involvement of women in science, with a range of approaches that target students from elementary to graduate levels. In terms of diversity, the Principle Investigators will enhance the recruitment and retention of underrepresented minority students from the undergraduate degree through to academic careers. These activities will be carried out in collaboration with Southeast Alliance for Graduate Education and the Professoriate program on the campus.Technical: Electric fields play an important role in a wide range of biological processes, including prenatal development, cell signaling, nerve sprouting, wound healing, etc. As a result, a range of devices have been developed that are capable of delivering electric fields to the human body. However, at present, it is not possible to apply electric fields to interior parts of the body in a non-invasive manner. With this award, the researchers plan to overcome this limitation with the development of a 3-D multiferroic nanocomposite-based cell scaffold. Multiferroic composite materials are materials that couple multiple types of ferroic ordering, which leads to new types of ordering including the magnetoelectric effect. For example, magnetoelectric multiferroic materials are capable of generating an electric field in response to an applied magnetic field, which the body is permeable to. The primary goal of this project is to synthesize biocompatible multiferroic nanomaterials and to incorporate them into biopolymer hydrogels. After developing biocompatible electroactive composite scaffolds, the researchers will study relationships between electric fields and the fate of cells. With the incorporation of multiferroic materials in a biopolymer scaffold, this project seeks to assemble a cell scaffold material that fully mimics the chemical, topographical, mechanical, and electrical properties of native tissue. The proposed research is multidiscliplinary and involves collaboration among faculty members in different departments such as Chemistry, Biomedical Engineering, and Materials Science & Engineering departments in the Campus. Through this collaboration, students will be exposed to creative thinking and cooperative co-advising of research projects that transcend research groups and disciplines.