The innovation engine for new materials

Engineering Biomaterials and Matrix Signals to Repair Large-Scale Bone Defects

Seminar Group: 

Speaker: 

Marley Dewey

Address: 

Assistant Professor of Bioengineering
UCSB

Date: 

Friday, November 17, 2023 - 11:00am

Location: 

ESB 1001

Host: 

Angela Pitenis

Biomaterial strategies to repair craniomaxillofacial (CMF) defects, or large-scale bone defects, require materials which can provide structural support, resist infection, and provide cellular signals to promote bone formation. Mineralized collagen scaffolds are biomaterials capable of regenerating bone in small animal models; however, like many biomaterials, struggle to repair large-scale defects in clinically-relevant models (porcine). To improve repair of CMF defects using mineralized collagen scaffolds, we take a close look at the material and mechanical properties of biomaterial scaffolds to create a more biomimetically similar material and overcome challenges of large-scale bone repair. Specifically, we tailor porosity and pore orientation of the scaffold, and manipulate mechanics and degradation speed with various 3D-printed biomaterials and print designs. Through the creation of anisotropic pores, and incorporating shape-fitting Voronoi structures, we can improve the ability of scaffolds to repair bone. Furthermore, one of the primary principles of tissue engineering is incorporating signaling elements within biomaterials to guide cell behavior. Extracellular vesicles (EV), nano-scale lipid vesicles secreted by all cells, represent a source of cell-signaling cargo which can influence cell behavior. We examine the role of EV in bone repair and regenerative medicine applications, including the role of a new class of extracellular vesicle, matrix-bound nanovesicles (MBV), located within the extracellular matrix. Future work aims to combine biomaterials with a diverse population of EV to guide cell behavior and bone repair in CMF defects, as well as other skeletal repair problems such as implant infection and bone cancer.