Science At the Edge Seminar

Lonnie Shea, Associate Professor

Department of Chemical Engineering
Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208-3120

Tissue development and regeneration are complex processes that result from a dynamic interplay between the cells and their microenvironment. The microenvironment contains signals, broadly categorized as immobilized (e.g., extracellular matrix) or diffusible (e.g., growth factors), which orchestrate progenitor cell formation into functional tissues. We combine biomaterials, gene therapy, and drug delivery to control the cellular microenvironment for tissue-specific progenitor cells that are either transplanted (e.g., islets) or within the local tissue (e.g., neurons). A versatile approach for controlling the microenviroment involves the localized delivery of gene therapy vectors from tissue engineering scaffolds. These biomaterial scaffolds provide opportunities to enhance or control gene transfer relative to more traditional delivery methods (e.g., injection), and we have identified several design parameters that correlate scaffold and vector properties to the gene transfer. The design of these scaffolds and their application will be discussed. Scaffolds that control the presentation of signals within the cellular microenvironment provide a powerful tool to molecularly dissect tissue formation, and to promote functional tissue regeneration.

For further information please contact Prof. Christina Chan, Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science at krischan@egr.msu.edu

Persons with disabilities have the right to request and receive reasonable accommodation. Please call the Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science at 355-5135 at least the day prior to the seminar; requests received after this date will be met when possible.