Rational design, synthesis and immunocharacterization of next-generation biomaterials

生物材料是任何与生物系统相互作用的材料，例如我们的身体。许多较新的生物材料被设计成在微观水平上指导我们体内的细胞。MXene就是一个例子，它是一种具有广泛生物功能的非常小的粒子家族。这些包括生物传感器、骨替代物和药物输送系统。在这个研究项目中，我们将学习生物材料的设计和合成，以及生物材料与免疫细胞对话的语言。这一点很重要，因为免疫系统通常会保护我们的身体免受有害外来物质的伤害，但它也可以成为任何植入材料和我们身体之间的屏障。此外，任何生物材料要发挥其功能，都需要与免疫细胞兼容，以便在植入后长期留在体内。我们最近发现，由于MXenes的结构，它们可以直接与我们的免疫细胞对话。MXenes由碳和金属核心组成，周围环绕着许多被称为官能团的原子基团。这些表面官能团是MXene用来与细胞交谈的。此外，我们认为生物材料传递给免疫细胞的信息可以通过改变其表面官能团来改变。目的：NSERC DG计划的长期目标是开发一种新型的免疫指导性材料设计平台，在该平台上，材料可以被合理地设计和合成，以具有特定的免疫特性，以提高其在宿主组织中的稳定性和有效性。为了实现这一目标，提出了四个短期目标。1.我们将构建MXene颗粒，并向免疫细胞传递不同的信息。我们拥有通过对MXene的表面官能团进行特定改变来构建不同类型的MXene粒子的专业知识。2.我们将使用各种科学工具来了解这些粒子的结构。我们还将进行实验，以确保这些颗粒不会对活细胞造成伤害。3.我们将研究MXene颗粒如何与免疫细胞交谈。这些实验将在细胞和小鼠身上进行。4.我们将描述免疫细胞如何解释MXene粒子传递的“信息”。这些信息最终将帮助我们建立计算机程序，以预测我们想要的任何功能所需的表面官能团。意义：这项研究计划将有助于开发一种新的生物材料制造方法。在这里获得的知识将帮助我们在生物材料制造之前预测对免疫细胞友好的生物材料的设计。我的研究计划还将作为HQP在生物材料合成、表征和材料免疫学等更广泛的跨学科领域的培训平台。这将使HQP在未来的广泛职业生涯中取得成功。知识产权将得到开发，新的发现将带来成立一家剥离公司的机会。

A biomaterial is any material that interacts with a biological system such as our bodies. Many newer biomaterials have been designed to guide the cells in our bodies on a microscopic level. An example of this is MXene, a family of very small particles with a wide range of biological functions. These include biosensors, bone replacements and drug delivery systems. In this research program, we will study the design and synthesis of biomaterials as well as the language used by biomaterials to talk to immune cells. This is important because the immune system, which normally protects our body from harmful foreign substances, can also act as a barrier between any implanted material and our body. Further, for any biomaterial to perform its function, it needs to be compatible with immune cells to stay in the body for a long time after implantation. We recently found that MXenes can directly talk to our immune cells due to their structure. MXenes are made up of a carbon and metal core surrounded by many groups of atoms called functional groups. These surface functional groups are what MXene uses to talk to cells. Furthermore, we think the message delivered by biomaterials to immune cells can be altered by changing their surface functional groups. Objectives: The long-term objective of the proposed NSERC DG program is to develop a novel "immune-instructive" materials design platform where materials can be rationally designed and synthesized to possess specific immune characteristics to improve their stability and efficacy inside the host tissue. To accomplish this, four short-term objectives are proposed. 1.We will build MXene particles with different "messages" to immune cells. We have expertise building different types of MXene particles by making specific changes to the surface functional groups of MXene. 2.We will use various scientific tools to understand the structure of these particles. We will also perform experiments to make sure these particles are not harmful to living cells. 3.We will study how MXene particles talk to immune cells. These experiments will be performed on both cells and in mice. 4.We will characterise how the immune cells interpret the "message" delivered by MXene particles. This information will eventually help us build computer programs to predict the surface functional groups needed for any function that we want. Significance: This research program will help develop a new way for biomaterials to be made. The knowledge gained here will help us predict the design of biomaterials which is friendly to immune cells before they are made. My research program will also act as a platform for the training of HQP in the broader interdisciplinary area of biomaterials synthesis, characterization and immunology of materials. This will enable HQP to succeed in a wide range of future careers. Intellectual property will be developed, and the new discoveries will lead to opportunities to set up a Spin-off company.