A key determinant of the success of a biomaterial implant is its interactions with the host immune system, which often determines whether the biomaterial will survive and/or provide any benefit to the host. Every biomaterial implantation initiates a wound environment of varying intensity and activation of host immunity is dependent on leukocyte stimulation via pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) on the cell surface. PRRs recognize both foreign pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) that are common on microorganisms (signaling infection) and damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) that arise from cell stress, damage, or death (infection independent). Due to their role in a non-pathological tissue response, we believe surface treatment of implants with DAMP molecules can greatly diminish fibrotic bioimplant response and can even counteract the signaling of more inflammatory PAMP molecules. We have invented a biomaterial platform with highly tunable surface chemistry (to allow DAMP attachment) and an extremely low inherent fibrotic biomaterial response called Microporous Annealed Particle (MAP) scaffolding. We will use a murine model of injection-implant of the MAP scaffolding to identify DAMPs that instruct productive wound healing and/or limit the negative consequences PAMP-mediated biomaterial rejection. This will have important consequences for our understanding of the wound healing environment and represent proof of principle experiments for a tool that can be harnessed to improve wound healing, induce scar remodeling, and limit negative immune responses at bioimplant sites.
A negative immune response causes both biomaterial implant rejection and pathological wound healing associated with scar formation leading to impaired tissue function. This project uses a novel tool to identify immune signaling molecules that 1) promote a productive wound healing response and 2) limit inflammatory responses signaled by microbial contaminants common to surgery rooms. These tools have the potential to improve wound healing, induce remodeling of developing scars, and reduce bioimplant rejection.
