MODIFICATION OF CORNEAL TISSUE ENGINEERED SCAFFOLDS TO PROMOTE EPITHELIALIZATION

这个子项目是许多研究子项目中利用 资源由NIH/NCRR资助的中心拨款提供。子项目和 调查员(PI)可能从NIH的另一个来源获得了主要资金， 并因此可以在其他清晰的条目中表示。列出的机构是 该中心不一定是调查人员的机构。 我们开发仿生角膜材料的方法是结合多种材料科学策略来构建组织工程支架，这需要至少两层微结构，专门将前上皮层和基质细胞层分开。此外，新的纳米工程技术将使我们能够筛选多个细胞外蛋白(ECMP)和肽的比例和浓度，以确定增强细胞响应的光学表面。然后，ECMP和多肽的共价连接到支架表面将增加表面的仿生性质，并促进特定细胞的生长。在这个项目中，我们将新的化学、微/纳米制造和细胞生物学方法结合在一起，首先了解并控制角膜上皮细胞与材料的相互作用。在前期项目中，开发了一种新型水凝胶支架材料--PAH/GMA。在本研究期间，我们计划从以下方面对这种PAH/GMA材料进行全面的表征：1)孔径和溶质扰动/渗透性；2)表面亲水性/润湿性；3)物理完整性和机械性能；4)光学清晰度；5)生物稳定性。此外，对非生物相关蛋白明胶进行了初步的细胞相容性研究。我们将使用角膜细胞外基质蛋白-层粘连蛋白重复细胞相容性实验，以确认我们新型材料的上皮细胞生物相容性。

This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. Our approach in developing biomimetic corneal material is to combine multiple material science strategies for the construction of a tissue engineered scaffold, which requires a minimum 2-layer microstructure that specifically separates the anterior epithelial layer from the stromal cell layer. Additionally, novel nanoengineering techniques will allow us to screen multiple extracellular proteins (ECMPs) and peptide ratios and concentrations to determine the optical surface for enhanced cellular response. Then, covalent tethering of ECMPs and peptides to the scaffold surfaces will increase the biomimetic nature of the surfaces and enhance specific cell growth. In this project, we are integrating novel chemistry, micro/nanofabrication, and cell biology methods to first understand and then control both corneal epithelial cell-material interactions. In the previous project period, a novel hydrogel scaffold material, PAH/GMA, was developed. In this study period, we plan to completely characterize this PAH/GMA material in terms of: 1) pore size and solute perturbation/permeability; 2) surface hydrophilicity/wettability; 3) physical integrity and mechanical properties; 4) optical clarity; and 5) biological stability. Additionally, preliminary cellular compatibility studies were performed with a non-biologically relevant protein, gelatin. We will repeat the cellular compatibility experiments using laminin, a corneal extracellular matrix protein, to confirm the epithelial cell biocompatibility of our novel material.