Three-Dimensional Biomaterials with Spatiotemporal Control for Regenerative Tissue Engineering

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Tissue Engineering
• Polymer Chemistry
• Regenerative Medicine

Background:

• Research experiences at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) like Morehouse College face funding challenges due to unfamiliarity with the HBCU environment.
• Current biomaterials for tissue repair have limitations in controlling biological processes and recapitulating complex 3D tissue structures.
• Developing advanced biomaterials is crucial for next-generation regenerative therapies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and prepare synthetic polymeric biomaterials for tissue regeneration.
• To fabricate 3D scaffolds that support cell growth, enhance mechanical properties, and control biological processes in disease states.
• To explore novel biomaterial strategies for repairing damaged tissues and recapitulating 3D organs.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication and characterization of 3D biomaterial scaffolds, including hydrogels and electrospun fibers.
• Utilized hybrid compositions of polylactic acid (PLA), poly(n-vinylcaprolactam) (PVCL), cellulose acetate (CA), and methacrylated hyaluronic acid (meHA).
• Investigated graft polymerization to create PVLC-graft-HA hydrogels and evaluated their properties using temperature-controlled rheology.

Main Results:

• Successfully fabricated PVCL-CA fibers with altered morphology and hydrophobic surface properties.
• Developed PVLC-graft-HA hydrogels exhibiting controlled lower critical solution temperatures (LCSTs) and gelation temperatures.
• Demonstrated a 10-fold increase in extracellular matrix proteins (collagen) in articular cartilage cells cultured in PVCL-g-HA gels under hypoxic conditions.

Conclusions:

• The developed 3D biomaterials, including electrospun fibers and hydrogels, show significant potential for tissue engineering applications.
• The PVCL-graft-HA hydrogels offer a promising platform for articular cartilage repair, particularly under hypoxic stress.
• This research highlights the synergistic use of biomaterials and advanced manufacturing for regenerative medicine.