The interplay of matrix rigidity and mechanical stretching for the development of artificial skin

Antoniadou, Eleni

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/42480 Copy

Description

Title

The interplay of matrix rigidity and mechanical stretching for the development of artificial skin

Author(s)

Antoniadou, Eleni

Issue Date

2013-02-03T19:47:15Z

Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)

Kong, Hyun Joon

Department of Study

Bioengineering

Discipline

Bioengineering

Degree Granting Institution

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Degree Name

M.S.

Degree Level

Thesis

Keyword(s)

• Matrix stiffness
• Mechanical stretching
• artificial skin
• tissue engineering

Abstract

Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine provides the possibility for generating organs in laboratorial settings as an off-the-shelf-technology that can provide an alternative therapeutic pathway for transplantations and replace non-functional organs. Many engineered tissues have been attempted in the past decade including skin, blood vessel, cartilage and bone but they lack the mechanical properties and biological functionality of their real counterparts which leads to failure in vivo. Matrix rigidity and mechanical forces are key regulators of tissue homeostasis and are essential for tissue formation, remodeling and healthy function. As a consequence, mechanical stimulation has frequently been employed to improve tissue morphogenesis, and cellular spatial organization but it has not been previously implemented in a synergistic manner with matrix rigidity due to lack of tools in 3D cell culture systems. The goal of this study is to investigate the structural changes, the morphological alterations and tissue formation by developing a novel 3D construct that is resilient with controlled matrix stiffness and which can sustain mechanical strain. This template can be used to further elucidate the biochemical pathways for stem cell differentiation that result into the regeneration of a series of tissues.

Graduation Semester

2012-12

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http://hdl.handle.net/2142/42480

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2012 Eleni Antoniadou

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