Objectives of Research:
Cancer, trauma, degenerative disease and congenital craniofacial abnormalities can result in large cartilage tissue loss and severe disfigurement requiring plastic surgery. Current treatments include autologous tissue or prosthetic replacements but these are associated with their own limitations, risks and complications such as limited availability, donor site morbidity, infection, and psychosocial disability. The field of cartilage tissue regeneration aims to replace diseased tissue with new living tissue tailored to meet the individual needs of the patient.
Cartilage tissue lacks the innate ability to regenerate. Hence, current motivation in cartilage tissue engineering lies in the search of methods to direct cell behaviour and induce tissue growth. Our aim is to produce a nanofibrous scaffold which provides a mimic of real tissue extracellular matrix (ECM). Furthermore, we will design the scaffold to be bioactive, biocompatible and biodegradable for cartilage regeneration.
A major challenge in Tissue Engineering is being able to present the correct biochemical stimuli to cells. Transforming Growth Factor-1 (TGF-β1) has become a powerful tool in the induction of tissue regeneration. It modulates a broad range of biological processes including cell proliferation, differentiation, and maintenance of the ECM. Nevertheless, over accumulation of activated TGF-β1 results in pathological conditions. Engineering a cell-mediated TGF-β1 activation system would provide a real breakthrough in the field. Latent TGF-β1 is a form of the growth factor that possesses an RGD peptide sequence which when attached to a cell, activates the TGF-β1. In view of this cell-mediated activation, our proposed strategy is to utilise latent TGF-β1 to functionalise our scaffold system. This is a unique and novel strategy which intends to precisely guide and control cartilage tissue growth. |
Potential Benefits of Research to Patients:
This project ultimately aims to produce the optimal cartilage tissue scaffold for plastic and reconstructive surgery. The intended outcome of this project will be highly beneficial to patients with visual disfigurements as a result of cancer, trauma and congenital anomalies.
The project will mean a breakthrough in the treatment of many diseases including in other fields of surgery such as orthopaedic surgery. It will also form an important part of the ever advancing multidisciplinary research in cartilage tissue engineering as well as a vital template for tissue engineering of other tissue types. |
