Ian Wark Research Institute
ARC Special Research Centre
ARC Special Research Centre
Research Area: Nanomaterials, biomaterials
Supervisors:
Prof Namita Roy
Choudhury and A/Prof Naba Dutta
Description: Macroporous three-dimensional polymer scaffolds
play an important role in tissue engineering. Successful tissue
regeneration requires strong interaction amongst three components: the
cells that restore tissue, a scaffold to hold the cells as they create
tissues, and signaling moieties that direct the cells to form the
tissue. Of fundamental importance in tissue engineering are the
interactions at the cell-polymer interface, which eventually leads to
functional substitutes of damaged tissues through complex interactions
of living cells, bioactive molecules and three-dimensional porous
scaffolds, which support cell attachment, proliferation and
differentiation. The physico-chemical nature of the scaffold surface
strongly influences the number of cells that attach and their course of
differentiation and growth Synthetic, biodegradable polymer scaffolds
have been mostly developed based on functional poly (lactic-co-glycolic
acid), their blends with other polymers or poly(lactic acid-co-lysine)
based comb-like graft copolymers. The incorporation of amino acid chains
into the polymer structure can impart new properties to the scaffold
materials, in particular the potential to modify their surface
properties, without losing its mechanical characteristics.
Therefore, in this work we plan to develop non-immunogenic peptide and
recombinant protein based nanostructured biomimetic 3D matrices as
instructive local microenvironment for tissue regeneration and to use
these novel matrices as reliable in vitro model for fast systematic in
vitro screening of bone and cartilage tissue. The property changes are
expected to depend upon the particular peptide used as well as the chain
length and overall composition of the polymer. The polymer chosen will
have functional sites for chemical modification with peptides, thus
providing the opportunity for the attachment of biologically active
molecules that can actively promote favorable cell-polymer interactions.
In order to study their potential as scaffolds for tissue engineering,
the preparation of 3D scaffold using electrospinning, their modification
by attachment of bio-active molecules and finally the attachment of
cells will be investigated.
Funding: A grant application to the NH&MRC is currently being
assessed. If successful, this grant will support one IWRI fully funded
scholarship. International students should apply for an International
Postgraduate Research Scholarship (IPRS) and a UniSA President's
Scholarship (UPS).
Australian students should apply for an Australian Postgraduate Award (APA)
and a UniSA Australian Postgraduate Research Award (USAPRA).
