Smart Biomaterials for neural tissue engineering applications

这个项目是拉夫堡大学一个雄心勃勃的博士生培训中心的一部分，该中心有5名学生，从事芯片脑技术领域的培训。迫切需要对神经退行性疾病进行研究，然而，我们对复杂的大脑回路缺乏了解，限制了对未来医疗保健策略的建模和评估。神经组织的细胞结构对其功能至关重要。未来任何提供组织工程化神经组织的外科干预都需要确保在不损害细胞活性或连接性的情况下操纵这种微妙的组织。细胞活性或组织结构的妥协将影响任何这样的再生医学方法的表现。该项目特别关注新型智能材料的开发，该材料将确保支持和轻松处理以3D方式培养的高度组织的神经元电路。这些方法还将调查这些材料用于组织输送(例如移植部位)的潜力，并关注整个组织的功能，而不仅仅是在单个细胞水平上。

This project is part of an ambitious 5-student centre for doctoral training at Loughborough University within the area of brain-on-a-chip technology. There is an urgent need for research into neurodegenerative disease, however our lack of understanding of complex brain circuitry restricts modelling and evaluation for future healthcare strategies. The cellular architecture of neural tissue is of key importance for its function. Any future surgical intervention to deliver tissue engineered neural tissue will need to ensure manipulation of this delicate tissue without compromising cell viability or connectivity. Compromise of either cellular viability or tissue architecture will affect performance of any such regenerative medicine approach. This project specifically focuses on the development of novel smart materials which will ensure support and easy handling of highly organised neuronal circuits cultured in 3D. Approaches will also investigate the potential of these materials for delivery of the tissue (e.g. to a transplant site) with attention on whole tissue function rather than only at the single cell level.