Loading...
Biomimetic human tissue models and their application in disease pathology studies and therapeutic interventions
Adhikari, Bikram
Adhikari, Bikram
Citations
Altmetric:
Advisor
Editor
Date
Date Issued
2023
Date Submitted
Collections
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Journal Issue
Embargo Expires
Abstract
The field of biomaterials is a multidisciplinary area of science that focuses on the development, design,
and application of materials that interact with biological systems. Tissue engineering evolved from the field
of biomaterials and refers to the practice of combining cells, scaffolds, and bioactive molecules into a
functional tissue. It combines principles from biology, materials science, and engineering to design and
produce models capable of replacing, repairing or augmenting malfunctioning human tissues. In general,
any material engineered to interact with the body are biomaterials.
This thesis focuses on efforts aimed at developing 3D tissue models using biomaterials. These models
are capable of mimicking human tissues and directing cellular responses for therapeutic purposes. To study
glaucoma, hydrogels and scaffold-based models were engineered to replicate the native trabecular
meshwork, a filter like tissue responsible for maintaining eye pressure. Cellular behavior in those models
was monitored in response to external stressors, both mechanical and biochemical. Genotypic and
phenotypic differences were observed in normal vs glaucoma induced cells. Similarly, drug (short interfering
RNA) loaded hydrogels were designed to direct stem cell differentiation behavior. These are applicable in
prevention of unwanted bone formation after injuries to the growth plate, a cartilaginous region at the end
of long bones. Mapk14 pathway silencing helped in preventing stem cells from expressing genes implicated
in bone formation. Further studies with these hydrogels aim at employing novel cell directive motifs
capable of circumventing limitations of the siRNA therapy.
Associated Publications
Rights
Copyright of the original work is retained by the author.