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Biomimetic Calcium Phosphate/Pem Coatings For Sequential Multifactor Delivery, Emily E. Jacobs

Doctoral Dissertations

Many of the most promising strategies for tissue engineering and regeneration aim to replicate natural cellular microenvironments including matrix components, growth factors, and cellular proteins as a means to guide the migration, proliferation, and differentiation of progenitor cells. Combinations of growth factors synergistically enhance tissue regeneration, but typically require sequential, rather than co-delivery from biomaterials for maximum efficacy. Polyelectrolyte multilayer (PEM) coatings can deliver multiple factors without loss of activity; however, sequential delivery has been limited due to interlayer diffusion of multiple factors that results in co-delivery.

This dissertation examined the incorporation of a biomimetic calcium phosphate (bCaP) layer into …

Development Of A Biodegradable Polymer-Metal Composite As A Novel Biomaterial, Tyler Stahl

Master's Theses

Poly(lactide-co- glycolide) (PLGA) is a versatile biomaterial and is desirable for use in tissue engineering applications requiring a degradable matrix or fixation. PLGA degradation rate can be controlled through manipulation of the ratio of its constituent monomers PLA (polylactic acid) and PGA (polyglycolic acid). When PLGA degrades it can lead to the development of acidic conditions eliciting an inflammatory response. We have investigated the addition of biodegradable Magnesium (Mg) particles to a PLGA matrix, aiming to achieve neutral byproducts. Within the body Mg degrades into a basic oxide and hydrogen gas, so through varying its concentration in a PLGA scaffold …