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Cartilage Repair by Tissue Engineering: Multi-Functional Polymers as Scaffold Materials

Yuan, Xuegang
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1366820218

Abstract Details

2013, Master of Science, University of Akron, Polymer Science.
Cartilage defects and loss caused by accidents, diseases or degeneration raises serious problems affecting people of all ages. It is difficult for cartilage to heal spontaneously after damage because of the lack of blood vessels in its complex structure and the resultant interruption of nutrition, including growth factors, vitamins, and minerals, to cartilage cells (chondrocytes) to support their development. Many methods, often surgical intervention, are used to restore cartilage, but they are not very successful. Current studies are focusing on a new technique — tissue engineering to repair cartilage defects. Tissue engineering involves biology, biochemistry, materials science, engineering, manufacturing and medicine. Three key aspects of tissue engineering are cell sources, scaffolds and growth factors. Scaffolds, as one of the three important elements, ideally will mimic the natural environment of the cells and tissues in vitro. There are several basic tissue engineering requirements for scaffolds. They should be ideally 1) three-dimensional and porous; 2) biodegradable; 3) biocompatible; and 4) controllable in mechanical properties. Currently, many biomaterials may be used as a scaffold, including natural and synthetic materials and they may be modified by synthesis methods. Several reports indicate the importance of surface charges on cartilage and chondrocytes. Synthetic approaches that provide interaction between scaffold functional groups and cartilage surfaces could introduce a new promising direction to improve tissue engineering therapy for cartilage impairment. In that regard, the goal of this project is to synthesize multifunctional polymers as scaffolds used for cartilage tissue engineering with the intent that different scaffold functional groups can be utilized successfully to attract and bind chondrocytes. The cell/scaffold constructs would in turn be capable of interacting with cartilage surfaces to assist in augmenting and regenerating the tissue through chondrocyte proliferation and matrix production in situations of cartilage damage and loss. The work in this study has been conducted initially in cell culture with the future prospect of implanting constructs in nude mice to determine their chondrocyte growth and extracellular matrix formation.
Abraham Joy, Dr. (Advisor)
William Landis, Dr. (Advisor)
85 p.
Biomedical Engineering; Chemistry; Organic Chemistry

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Yuan, X. (2013). Cartilage Repair by Tissue Engineering: Multi-Functional Polymers as Scaffold Materials [Master's thesis, University of Akron]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1366820218

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Yuan, Xuegang. Cartilage Repair by Tissue Engineering: Multi-Functional Polymers as Scaffold Materials. 2013. University of Akron, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1366820218.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Yuan, Xuegang. "Cartilage Repair by Tissue Engineering: Multi-Functional Polymers as Scaffold Materials." Master's thesis, University of Akron, 2013. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1366820218

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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© 2013, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by University of Akron and OhioLINK.