Speaker
Description
Leveraging advances in biomaterials and tissue engineering, it is becoming possible to develop successful reparative, regenerative and tissue modelling solutions. Over more than two decades, we have made progress with studying biodegradable materials for reparative medicine. For example, biodegradable screws and plates were translated to the clinic as osteosynthesis implants. Scaffolds for in situ tissue engineering were investigated and applied for guided tissue regeneration, some of which were also translated to the clinic. We have also developed osteoconductive scaffolds for cell-based tissue engineering. To make scaffolds biomimetic, we developed nanofiber-based scaffolds made of different polymers and optimized their processing techniques using electrospinning. Because different biodegradable polymers elicit inflammatory reaction during their degradation process, controlled tissue response properties were added by the inclusion of anti-inflammatory drugs in these scaffolds. To improve the two-dimensional structure of the scaffolds, three-dimensional (3D) composite constructs were developed and their effect on preserving cell phenotype was demonstrated. To better control cell distribution in scaffolds, 3D bioprinting was pursued for developing cell-laden constructs. To improve cell survival in engineered scaffolds novel bioink based on improved nanostructure was developed and effect on improved cell survival was sown. In addition, the development of oxygenated bioink was pursued and its effect on enhanced cell survival was achieved. A new osteopromotive cell-survival enhancing bioink was developed. In addition to advances, dynamic flow is needed to better mimic native tissue environment. Integration of microfluidic systems and other construct processing techniques is needed to be able to produce advanced biomimetic tissue constructs useful for clinical applications as regenerative tools or as tissue models for disease studies and drug development. To achieve this, multidisciplinary approach and sustained funding are required.
