Event
PhD Dissertation - Robert Choe
Wednesday, October 4, 2023
12:00 p.m.
AJC2223
Rachel Chang
301 405 8268
rachel53@umd.edu
Title: Enhancing Bioprinting Strategies Towards the Development of Biomimetic Osteochondral Tissue Engineering Scaffolds
Committee members:
Dr. John Fisher, Chair
Dr. Helim Aranda-Espinoza
Dr. Tao Lowe
Dr. Jonathan Packer
Dr. Isabel Lloyd, Dean's Representative
Abstract:
Osteoarthritis is a highly prevalent rheumatic musculoskeletal disorder that affects approximately 900,000 Americans annually and is characterized by the progressive breakdown of the articular cartilage and remodeling of the subchondral bone in the synovial joint. During early-stage osteoarthritis, the articular cartilage begins to degrade, the synovial joint space narrows, and the subchondral bone undergoes rapid bone turnover that leads to insufficient bone mineralization and compromised matrix integrity. While decades of research have revealed that an intricate balance between the bone and cartilage layers influences biochemical and biomechanical changes experienced within the osteochondral unit, most osteochondral tissue engineering scaffolds have not achieved clinical viability. Tissue engineering (TE) strategies, such as 3D bioprinting (3DP), offer a new avenue to help develop novel osteochondral tissue engineering scaffolds that can regenerate both healthy and diseased osteochondral joints. In this project, our immediate goal is to further expand the repertoire of osteochondral bioprinting strategies toward the development of a biomimetic, 3D-printed osteochondral scaffold. We will explore the designs and fabrication strategies of various 3D-printed biomimetic osteochondral interface scaffolds with enhanced mechanics guided by computational simulations. Additionally, we will examine the potential of utilizing osteoblast- and osteoclast-lineage cell co-cultures to enhance regenerative outcomes at the bone scaffold layer of osteochondral tissue engineering scaffolds. The long-term goal of this work is to aid in the development of a biomimetic 3D printed osteochondral scaffold that has enhanced load-bearing properties and elevated regeneration potential to recreate the unique osteochondral architecture at each distinct tissue layer.
