Biomimetic Materials for Regenerative Medicine
Peter Ma, Ph.D.
University of Michigan
Abstract
Scaffolds provide three-dimensional environments for stem cells and serve as templates for tissue regeneration. Our lab develops biomimetic scaffolds that recapitulate advantageous features of the extracellular matrix (ECM) and impart engineering design to facilitate regeneration. Novel phase separation techniques have been developed to create biodegradable ECM-mimicking nanofibrous scaffolds. Porous network design and computer assisted patient specific scaffold fabrication are intended to facilitate the regeneration of both function and appearance. To minimize surgical intervention, we recently developed biodegradable polymers that can self-assemble into nanofibrous hollow microspheres as novel injectable scaffolds. To mimic the biomolecular activities in development, we have developed scaffolds that can release various biological molecules in a controlled fashion to direct cell fate and function. These biomimetic scaffolds have been shown to advantageously support various stem cells to a variety of tissues.
Bio
Dr. Peter X Ma is the Richard H Kingery Endowed Collegiate Professor at the University of Michigan. He is a full professor in the Department of Biologic and Materials Sciences in the School of Dentistry, in the Department of Biomedical Engineering, Macromolecular Science and Engineering Center, Department of Materials Science and Engineering in the College of Engineering. Dr. Ma has been an invited/keynote/plenary speaker for 185 times. He has published 205 articles in scientific journals, proceedings and books. Professor Ma was featured as one of the five outstanding biomedical engineers by the Whitaker Foundation in 2004, elected Fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE) in 2006, named one of the Top 100 materials scientists in the world (2000-2010) by Thomson Reuters in 2011, elected Honorary Member of Omicron Kappa Upsilon (The Dental Honor Society), and elected Fellow of Biomaterials Science and Engineering (FBSE) of the International Union of Societies of Biomaterials Science and Engineering in 2012.