CHEMOTAXIS RESEARCH
Ongoing Projects
HETEROGENEOUS SCAFFOLDS
Microporous annealed particle hydrogels uniquely allow for the development of heterogenous scaffolds by mixing particle types. We have specifically explored MAP gel with heparin islands to interact with endogenous signals and form spontaneous microgradients to guide tissue ingrowth.
Publications:
Spatially Heterogeneous Epidermal Growth Factor Release from Microporous Annealed Particle (MAP) Hydrogel for Improved Wound Closure
Heparin Microislands in Microporous Annealed Particle Scaffold for Enhanced Diabetic Wound Healing Outcomes (preprint)
ABM MODELING OF MAP
Biomaterials capable of generating growth factor gradients have shown success in guiding tissue regeneration, as growth factor gradients are a physiologic driver of cell migration. Microporous Annealed Particle (MAP) scaffolds represent a unique niche in the field of regenerative biomaterials research as an injectable biomaterial with an open porosity that allows cells to freely migrate independent of material degradation. Recently, we have used the MAP platform to heterogeneously include spatially isolated heparin-modified microgels (heparin microislands) which can sequester growth factors and guide cell migration. We developed the first agent-based model of a MAP scaffold to optimize the ratio of heparin microislands for a two-dimensional model of endothelial cell migration within the unique MAP scaffold geometry. Our model can accurately predict cell migration trends in vitro, and these studies provide insight on how computational modeling can be used to design particle-based biomaterials.
Publications:
1. In silica optimization of heparin micro islands in microporous annealed particle hydrogel for endothelial cell migration