The role of decellularised ECM proteins in the biological direction of ligament cells on a polymer/ECM scaffold
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Manchester
Department Name: Engineering and Physical Sciences
Abstract
Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries account for 40% of all sports-related procedures. Typically an autograft is used however these come with several disadvantages. Current synthetic ligaments have low clinical uptake due to failures.
Electrospinning of degradable polymers such as PCL can be used to fabricate aligned structures that mimic the ligament architecture. However, while providing good physical and topographical cues they lack biological cues to stimulate matrix production. We hypothesise that by fabricating electrospun hybrids of degradable polymer and extracellular matrix (from decellularised ligament) these will provide both physical and biological cues and enhance ligament healing.
Similar hybrids have been used for other applications, but not yet for ligament. Interestingly the literature shows that the addition of ECM powder increases the tensile strength of the polymer fibres. The mechanical properties of the synthetic ligaments are critical to their potential as a ligament repair technology, aswell as their ability to stimulate effective matrix production.
Electrospinning of degradable polymers such as PCL can be used to fabricate aligned structures that mimic the ligament architecture. However, while providing good physical and topographical cues they lack biological cues to stimulate matrix production. We hypothesise that by fabricating electrospun hybrids of degradable polymer and extracellular matrix (from decellularised ligament) these will provide both physical and biological cues and enhance ligament healing.
Similar hybrids have been used for other applications, but not yet for ligament. Interestingly the literature shows that the addition of ECM powder increases the tensile strength of the polymer fibres. The mechanical properties of the synthetic ligaments are critical to their potential as a ligament repair technology, aswell as their ability to stimulate effective matrix production.
Planned Impact
There are numerous beneficiaries of this Advanced Biomedical Materials CDT. Firstly and of short term impact are the PhD students themselves. They will receive extensive research specific and professional/transferable skills training throughout the 4 years of the programme. They will have access to state of the art facilties and world leading academics, industry and clinicians. The training and potential placements are designed to maximise the impact of their research in terms of dissemination and movement of their research along the translation pathway.
Longer term benefits are that this distinct cohort will become the future UK Biomedical Materials leaders and be able to use their bespoke training and network within the cohort to collaborate on future worldwide funding opportunities and drive UK research in this area.
UK and international academics will benefit as they will gain the next generation of highly skilled postdoctoral researchers with knowledge and expertise not only in their specific research area but of industry, regulatory and clinical aspects.
UK and international industry will benefit - in the short term they will gain academic based research to further develop products and in the longer term have a pool of highly skilled graduates.
Clinicians will benefit from collaborative research and also the development of new and novel products to enhance the treatment of a variety of trauma and disease based needs from biomaterials.
The public will benefit as end users as patients that will have their quality of life improved from the products developed in the CDT and will be educated in novel technologies and materials to repair the human body. The UK economy will benefit from the reduced healthcare costs associated with the new and improved medical products developed in this CDT and subsequently from the trained graduates. The UK economy will also benefit from the increased revenue from medical sales products from the UK industrial partners we will be working with.
The impact of this CDT will be realised by direct academic, clinical and industrial engagement with the students allowing efficient and state of the at training and fast translation of developing products. Students will also be trained in knowledge exchange and will use these skills to disseminate their research to, and liaise with, the key stakeholders - the academic, industrial, clinical and public sectors. We will ensure widening participation routes are addressed in this CDT in order to include equality and diversity not only in our initial CDT student cohort but in future researcher generations to come.
Longer term benefits are that this distinct cohort will become the future UK Biomedical Materials leaders and be able to use their bespoke training and network within the cohort to collaborate on future worldwide funding opportunities and drive UK research in this area.
UK and international academics will benefit as they will gain the next generation of highly skilled postdoctoral researchers with knowledge and expertise not only in their specific research area but of industry, regulatory and clinical aspects.
UK and international industry will benefit - in the short term they will gain academic based research to further develop products and in the longer term have a pool of highly skilled graduates.
Clinicians will benefit from collaborative research and also the development of new and novel products to enhance the treatment of a variety of trauma and disease based needs from biomaterials.
The public will benefit as end users as patients that will have their quality of life improved from the products developed in the CDT and will be educated in novel technologies and materials to repair the human body. The UK economy will benefit from the reduced healthcare costs associated with the new and improved medical products developed in this CDT and subsequently from the trained graduates. The UK economy will also benefit from the increased revenue from medical sales products from the UK industrial partners we will be working with.
The impact of this CDT will be realised by direct academic, clinical and industrial engagement with the students allowing efficient and state of the at training and fast translation of developing products. Students will also be trained in knowledge exchange and will use these skills to disseminate their research to, and liaise with, the key stakeholders - the academic, industrial, clinical and public sectors. We will ensure widening participation routes are addressed in this CDT in order to include equality and diversity not only in our initial CDT student cohort but in future researcher generations to come.