PFI:AIR - TT: Electroactive Scaffold for Cartilage Regeneration: A Proof of Concept Study

这个PFI：空气技术翻译项目专注于翻译一种智能生物材料在软骨修复中的应用。该项目将利用一种压电材料来再生软骨组织。压电材料能够将机械变形转化为电输出，在很大程度上还没有被探索用于软骨修复。据估计，有4900万美国人因受伤或随着年龄的增长而磨损而遭受软骨损伤，这可能会严重影响一个人的生活质量，并可能进展为广泛的软骨破坏和致残性关节炎。目前，目前的修复技术无法恢复正常的“透明”软骨表面，造成纤维状“疤痕”，无法使关节恢复正常功能。该项目将开发一种用于植入的压电支架原型，并将确定该压电支架是否会再生功能性软骨组织。将演示概念验证。该压电支架具有以下独特特点：机械柔性、可生物降解、组织植入和细胞附着的多孔性，并提供电刺激。对于治疗软骨缺陷，压电支架可以与微骨折相结合，微骨折是一种常见的外科手术，可以刺激骨髓并提供内源性干细胞的来源，以促进愈合并与本地软骨融合。该项目解决了以下技术差距(S)，因为它从研究发现转化为商业应用。该压电支架是一种由氧化锌组成的复合材料，它兼具压电和生物生长因子特性。压电材料作为一种高度灵敏的机电换能器，在微小的机械变形时产生电荷。该项目将开发一种灵活的、压电纤维支架，可以实现局部电场，模拟在发育和再生过程中观察到的自然细胞外基质。这种天然的细胞外基质还富含生长因子，因此锌的双功能特性将为细胞提供协同效益，促进修复。拟议的研究将侧重于原型开发和在活体模型中建立概念验证。许多人患有骨性关节炎或软骨损伤。需要创新的技术。参与该项目的人员，包括本科生和研究生，以及博士后，将通过其他教学模块和大学项目获得创业、创新和技术翻译的经验。

This PFI: AIR Technology Translation project focuses on translating the use of a smart biomaterial for the application of cartilage repair.   The project will utilize a piezoelectric material to regenerate cartilage tissue. Piezoelectric materials are capable of converting mechanical deformation into electrical output and have largely been unexplored for cartilage repair. An estimated 49 million Americans suffer from cartilage damage as a result of injury, or wear and tear with aging, which can significantly affect a person's quality of life and can progress to widespread cartilage destruction and disabling arthritis. At present, current repair techniques are unable to restore a normal "hyaline" cartilaginous surface, resulting in fibrous "scars" that do not return the joint to normal function. The project will result in the development of a piezoelectric scaffold prototype for implantation and will determine whether the piezoelectric scaffold will regenerate functional cartilage tissue. Proof-of-concept will be demonstrated. The piezoelectric scaffold has the following unique features: mechanically flexible, biodegradable, porous for tissue ingrowth and cell attachment, and provides electrical stimulation. For treating cartilage defects, the piezoelectric scaffold can be combined with microfracturing, a common surgical procedure that stimulates the bone marrow and provides a source of endogenous stem cells, to promote healing and integration with the native cartilage.This project addresses the following technology gap(s) as it translates from research discovery toward commercial application. The piezoelectric scaffold is a composite consisting of zinc oxide, which possesses both piezoelectric and biological growth factor properties. A piezoelectric material acts as a highly sensitive mechano-electrical transducer that generates charges in response to minute mechanical deformations. This project will develop a flexible, piezoelectric fibrous scaffold that can achieve a local electric field mimicking the natural extracellular matrix observed during development and regeneration. This natural extracellular matrix is also rich in growth factors so the bifunctional property of zinc will provide a synergistic benefit to cells to promote repair. The proposed studies will focus on prototype development and establishing proof-of-concept in an in vivo model. Many individuals suffer from osteoarthritis or cartilage damage. Innovative technologies are needed. Personnel involved in this project, both undergraduate and graduate students, and postdocs, will receive entrepreneurship, innovation and technology translation experiences through teaching modules and university programs.