PMSE 188 |
| Efforts to engineer complex tissue therapies will be dramatically improved by a better understanding of how cells interact with their 3D environments. Thus, our goal is to develop new biomaterials that are designed to mimic the properties of soft tissues, enable studies of stiffness-dependent cell processes, and provide mechanisms for manipulating key biomaterial physical properties. We present the development, characterization, and application of carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) gels and microparticles. Physical characterization of CMC gels revealed that increased CMC content in copolymer gels increases swelling, porosity and degradation while decreasing gel stiffness. The CMC gels support fibroblast adhesion and growth in 2D and 3D culture. CMC-based microspheres have been synthesized and are being explored as cell carriers and selectively-degradable porogens for macroporous gels. Ongoing studies explore roles of 3D matrix stiffness on cell function. These versatile CMC-based gels could be implemented in a variety of systems where tunable gel scaffolds are required. |
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Beyond Biocompatibility: Characterization of Functional Biomaterials
1:30 PM-5:25 PM, Tuesday, August 21, 2007 Westin Boston Waterfront -- Grand Ballroom D, Oral
Division of Polymeric Materials: Science & Engineering |