Synthetic ECM
The different interactions between the tissue components: mechanics,
cells and soluble
signals and their function in ECM.
Three components have been identified as being crucial for the development of tissue regeneration solutions:
1. Cell source,
2. Soluble molecules (cytokines and chemokines) to direct cell growth and differentiation, and
3. Physical support provided by matrix macromolecules, collectively referred to as Extracellular Matrix (ECM).
In order to identify the function of soluble factors, cells are usually cultivated on artificial planar surfaces. With the introduction of the Tissue Engineering paradigm, synthetic materials were developed to reproduce in vitro, the key elements of the ECM. Such systems have permitted the identification of the concomitant roles played by physical cues and soluble factors on the direction of cell fate and function, allowing the possibility to repair tissue and regenerate organs. Tissue Engineering, since, has grown to become a mature field of research and a considerable diversity of tri-dimensional systems has been developed. In spite of the effort to create new biocompatible materials, the lack of a general strategy and system, has limited our global understanding of the mechanisms that govern tissue repair, and has hampered translation across tissue types. Toward the establishment of a system that fulfills the requirements for the elaboration of minimally invasive therapies for the revascularization of ischemic tissues and repair of skeletal tissue, our efforts are focused on the development of a versatile, easily manufactured, scalable and sterilizable system that when implanted replicates the ECM. By developing a knowledge-gain cycle we have discovered unique structure-property relationships in a-helical polysaccharides and based on this novel and fundamental findings we have developed a family of injectable hydrogels with tunable physicochemical properties. By combining soluble signals with mechanically well-defined environments, we are deciphering the cues that govern cell polarity and organization, and developing mechanobiology paradigms for in vivo tissue engineering.
Copyright - Shastrilab, All Rights Reserved
1. Cell source,
2. Soluble molecules (cytokines and chemokines) to direct cell growth and differentiation, and
3. Physical support provided by matrix macromolecules, collectively referred to as Extracellular Matrix (ECM).
In order to identify the function of soluble factors, cells are usually cultivated on artificial planar surfaces. With the introduction of the Tissue Engineering paradigm, synthetic materials were developed to reproduce in vitro, the key elements of the ECM. Such systems have permitted the identification of the concomitant roles played by physical cues and soluble factors on the direction of cell fate and function, allowing the possibility to repair tissue and regenerate organs. Tissue Engineering, since, has grown to become a mature field of research and a considerable diversity of tri-dimensional systems has been developed. In spite of the effort to create new biocompatible materials, the lack of a general strategy and system, has limited our global understanding of the mechanisms that govern tissue repair, and has hampered translation across tissue types. Toward the establishment of a system that fulfills the requirements for the elaboration of minimally invasive therapies for the revascularization of ischemic tissues and repair of skeletal tissue, our efforts are focused on the development of a versatile, easily manufactured, scalable and sterilizable system that when implanted replicates the ECM. By developing a knowledge-gain cycle we have discovered unique structure-property relationships in a-helical polysaccharides and based on this novel and fundamental findings we have developed a family of injectable hydrogels with tunable physicochemical properties. By combining soluble signals with mechanically well-defined environments, we are deciphering the cues that govern cell polarity and organization, and developing mechanobiology paradigms for in vivo tissue engineering.
Copyright - Shastrilab, All Rights Reserved
