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There is now a CONTENT FREEZE for Mercury while we switch to a new platform. It began on Friday, March 10 at 6pm and will end on Wednesday, March 15 at noon. No new content can be created during this time, but all material in the system as of the beginning of the freeze will be migrated to the new platform, including users and groups. Functionally the new site is identical to the old one. webteam@gatech.edu
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Advisors: Ying Luo PhD, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Peking University
W. Robert Taylor MD, PhD, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology & Emory University
Committee Members:
Zuhong Lu PhD, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Peking University
Changhui Li PhD, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Peking University
Jincai Luo PhD, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Peking University
Title: Study of scaffolds for delivery of mesenchymal stem cells in ischemic vascular diseases
Abstract:
Ischemic vascular diseases (IVDs) are the leading cause of death worldwide. Current therapies are able to reduce initial mortality but limited in replacing damaged tissue, which left patients high probability of relapse and diminished quality of life. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are a promising cell type for stem cell therapy. They secrete a series of paracrine factors, which have therapeutic effects in immunomodulation, antiapoptosis and angiogenesis. These abilities make MSC implantation a promising strategy for achieving functional recovery of IVDs. However, the low cell retention and viability of transplanted MSCs have limited the efficacy of MSC therapy.
The central hypothesis of this project is that the judicious design of scaffold is able to improve the efficacy of MSC therapies in treating IVD by increasing cell retention and viability. The central hypothesis will be studied in three specific aims. First, we will test the performance of a new MSC delivery system that applies a combination of MSCs spheroids and micro-well patterned scaffold. Second, we will develop a hydrogel-microfiber composite scaffold with improved biocompatibility. Third, we will seek to improve in vivo efficacy of mesenchymal stem cells with a semipermeable mini-devices we develop. Success in project will provide insights into how stem cell therapy may be designed and promote the clinical practice of MSC therapies.
