Combinatorial Design and Evaluation of Multi-Dimensional, Immunomodulatory Scaffolds for Tissue Engineering Applications

As the field of tissue engineering continues to move forward and tackle greater challenges like organ regeneration, the need for multi-dimensional, composite degradable polymeric biomaterials that can facilitate complex and integrated tissue development becomes ever more necessary. Current tissue engineering solutions comprised of one material with basic structure releasing a single bioactive factor cultured with one cell type will more than likely be suboptimal for high-order systems. Instead it is necessary to create composite scaffolds with complex micro- and nano-architecture releasing a number of bioactive factors to a mixture of incubated cell types to create artificial organs. But with a significant increase in construct variables comes a nearly untestable number of experimental groups to evaluate by conventional methods. In order to adequately research these new materials the development of combinatorial techniques must be employed. This approach requires that material synthesis, complex construct fabrication and biological evaluation all be conducted in a parallel, combinatorial fashion to expedite research progress.  While promising, complex constructs demonstrating remarkable in vitro behavior have been reported in the literature, but often these materials fail in vivo due to host immune responses. Although some research has focused on creating tissue engineering constructs that evade the immune system, the design of materials that can modulate the immune response in order to facilitate tissue regeneration is an overwhelmingly under-investigated field. By creating tissue engineering solutions that possess immunomodulatory and immunoattractant elements, new constructs can be designed that will yield much more positive in vivo outcomes. With graduate research experience in immunology, controlled delivery, polymer synthesis and biomaterials development and postdoctoral training in tissue engineering, cell culture techniques and stem cell biology, I am uniquely qualified to undertake this research. Building on my previous accomplishments, I look forward to conducting novel research in these emerging areas as an independent investigator.