Bioinstructive aerogels for healthcare applications
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Nottingham
Department Name: Sch of Pharmacy
Abstract
Aerogels are advanced nanoporous materials with an open pore structure and large specific surface area. Aerogels typically have a low weight and density and exhibit unusual properties including low heat conductivity and high mechanical strength. Whilst the properties of aerogels, e.g. mechanical strength coupled with porosity, indicate that these materials could find significant application in healthcare, for example as scaffolds to stimulate endogenous repair in bone defects, aerogels are conventionally prepared from inorganic compounds, such as silica. To create aerogels capable of integrating into host tissue a paradigm shift is required to develop bioinstructive aerogels with the chemical, physical and morphological characteristics required to modulate cellular events, provide physical support and vascularization and ultimately remodel alongside tissue formation. This PhD project will provide a deliberate integration of new materials in biology by the development of bioinstructive aerogels from biological tissues. Extracellular matrix (ECM) derived hydrogels contain spatial, temporal and topological cues. Matri-cryptic peptides, matrix-bound vesicles, proteins and growth factors retained after processing provide instruction to restore cell function and have been shown to promote constructive remodelling in vivo. The development of bioinstructive aerogels will provide a new class of biologically inspired materials, with a unique combination of biological cues and responses combined with structure and mechanical properties required to support tissue regeneration and formation. The creation of aerogels from biological materials has never been attempted and will require new approaches to minimise damage to the ECM and create stable, cross-linked hydrogels that can undergo solvent exchange and supercritical drying to produce bioinstructive aerogels.
Organisations
Publications
Sanjuan-Alberte P
(2022)
Printing biohybrid materials for bioelectronic cardio-3D-cellular constructs.
in iScience
Kellaway SC
(2023)
Engineered neural tissue made using hydrogels derived from decellularised tissues for the regeneration of peripheral nerves.
in Acta biomaterialia
Studentship Projects
Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
EP/N50970X/1 | 30/09/2016 | 29/09/2021 | |||
1970523 | Studentship | EP/N50970X/1 | 30/09/2017 | 14/06/2022 | Joshua Jones |
EP/R513283/1 | 30/09/2018 | 29/09/2023 | |||
1970523 | Studentship | EP/R513283/1 | 30/09/2017 | 14/06/2022 | Joshua Jones |
Description | Successfully used a plant-based chemical (Genipin) to cross-link bone dervied ECM hydrogels and increase their mechanical strength. |
Exploitation Route | This could help others to use this cross-linking reagent on ECM based hydrogels derived from other tissues. |
Sectors | Healthcare,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |