The objective of this proposed research is for the development nanofibrous polymeric tissue scaffolds which are effective in regenerating the growth of new tissue for tissue scaffold applications, including orthopedic (bone, cartilage), skin, dental and wound healing. Electrospinning will be used to generate the polymeric fibers with nanoscopic dimensions. Varying combinations of constituent materials and modifications of the electrospinning process will be used to develop polymeric scaffolds with varying degrees of hierarchical complexity and functionality. A bio-inspired process of controlling surface chemistry using electrophoretic deposition will be utilized to enhance the cellular attraction. Experiments will also be conducted to elucidate the degradation rates and mechanisms of the nanofibrous scaffolds.
If successful, the results of this research will lead to improvements in the design and synthesis of polymeric tissue scaffolds. The primary goal of this research is to develop polymeric tissue scaffolds which mimic the size scale and chemistry of the extra cellular matrix and possesses tunable mechanical and physical properties. Control of electrophoretic deposition process parameters is expected to generate new insight into how the nature of the scaffold surface can affect cellular adhesion and growth.
