NSF: CBET: GARDE: 1067654
9/01/2011-8/31/2014
PI: M. Nichole Rylander, co-PIs: Ge Wang, Joseph Freeman, Chris Rylander, and M. Renee Prater
The ultimate goal of this project is to develop a superior bone scaffold through stress conditioning and HSP delivery with the capability to enhance wound healing and bone regeneration in vivo. The transformative nature of the proposed bone scaffold lies in its novel fabrication methods comprised of co-electrospinning polymers coupled with integrated HSP releasing microspheres, conditioning with thermal+tensile stress, and encapsulation of microspheres for HSP release from the scaffold to the surrounding tissue. To accomplish the overall goal, we will complete the following objectives:
1) Construct a novel microbioreactor system to apply combinatorial (thermal+tensile) stress and create a scaffold capable of exogenous HSP delivery and wound healing.
2) Apply combinatorial thermal and tensile stress preconditioning protocols alone and with exogenous HSP delivery to bone scaffolds using a novel microbioreactor system and determine ideal conditions for enhancing bone formation.
3) Evaluate effectiveness of bone scaffolds preconditioned with thermal+tensile stress and HSP delivery to heal bone defects in a rat craniofacial defect model.
Clinical perspective for HSP based scaffolds. Scaffolds containing stem cells will be preconditioned with thermal, mechanical, and biochemical cues (strategy 1). HSP will also be delivered throughout the scaffold using microspheres (carriers) (strategy 2). Scaffold will be implanted in diseased or fractured bone and further regeneration will be promoted by HSP release from the scaffold into the tissue.
Clinical perspective for HSP based scaffolds. Scaffolds containing stem cells will be preconditioned with thermal, mechanical, and biochemical cues (strategy 1). HSP will also be delivered throughout the scaffold using microspheres (carriers) (strategy 2). Scaffold will be implanted in diseased or fractured bone and further regeneration will be promoted by HSP release from the scaffold into the tissue.