Allison Ramey 

BME PhD Proposal Presentation

Date: May 21, 2019

Time: 9 AM

Location: Atwood Rm. 360, Emory University Department of Chemistry

Committee Members:

Khalid Salaita, PhD (Emory University, Department of Chemistry) (Advisor)

Andrés García, PhD (Georgia Institute of Technology, School of Mechanical Engineering)

Johnna Temenoff, PhD (Georgia Institute of Technology, Department of Biomedical Engineering)

Young Jang, PhD (Georgia Institute of Technology, School of Biological Sciences)

Jarrod Call, PhD (University of Georgia, Department of Kinesiology)

Title: Development of a mechanically active biomaterial for muscle tissue engineering

Abstract: Volumetric muscle loss (VML)—muscle injuries resulting in critical loss of tissue—accounts for the majority of extremity trauma in soldiers and many of such injuries in civilians. The clinical gold standard for VML treatment is an autograft muscle implant, though this causes additional injury to the patient. In addressing this, researchers have discovered environmental mechanical factors, such as substrate properties and regular application of strain, have a positive impact on myogenesis. The proposed work develops an actuating material with biomimetic mechanical properties which will apply forces to myoblasts and promote differentiation into tissue engineered muscle. To achieve this, optomechanical actuators (OMAs), contractile nanoparticles which respond to near-infrared (NIR) stimulation, will be incorporated into hydrogel materials. The central hypothesis is that a 3-D hydrogel embedded with actuating nanoparticles will apply cyclic strain and provide a scaffold for growth, enhancing functional myogenesis. By evaluating biochemical and morphological markers of muscle differentiation, as well as functionality of resultant engineered muscle construct, this work will both provide insight into the role of mechanics in myogenesis and demonstrate in vitro a tissue engineering strategy for VML treatment. This will provide a strong foundation for future work in vivo.