Our group is interested in the development of biopolymer systems that will allow the study of cells’ interactions with their microenvironment and that can be used for tissue regeneration and therapeutics. We are investigating the controlled delivery of bioactive factors and therapeutics, the presentation of insoluble signals to cells, the effect of mechanical forces on cell behavior and tissue formation, and the influence that different cell populations have on one another.
The applications that we are currently researching include growth plate cartilage regeneration, trabecular meshwork cell behavior that is important in glaucoma, diabetic wound healing, and bone and dental tissue regeneration. A startup company has recently been formed based on the materials for wound healing developed in our laboratory.
Principal Investigator: Associate Professor Melissa Krebs, Chemical and Biological Engineering
Keywords: Biomaterials, Drug Delivery, Tissue Engineering