(3cb) Next Generation Musculoskeletal Tissue Engineering

As the field of tissue engineering moves forward and tackles greater challenges like organ regeneration, the need for novel, multi-dimensional strategies that facilitate complex and integrated tissue development becomes more necessary. Current tissue engineering solutions are comprised of one material with basic structure releasing a single bioactive factor cultured with one cell type and will likely be suboptimal for higher order systems. Instead composite scaffolds with complex micro- and nano-architecture releasing a number of bioactive factors to a mixture of incubated cell types must be designed to create artificial organs. This increase in complexity requires new research-based approaches where knowledge from a variety of scientific fields must be integrated to yield next generation technologies. Due to my diverse research background, I am uniquely qualified to design and develop novel solutions capable of facilitating complex tissue regeneration.

My research to date has focused on utilizing synthetic biomaterials to facilitate desired biological responses through drug delivery and tissue engineering strategies. I completed my PhD in Chemical Engineering with a minor in Immunobiology at Iowa State University under the guidance of Professor Balaji Narasimhan. In collaboration with Professor Michael Wannemuehler in the department of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventative Medicine, my research focused on the development of polyanhydride nanoparticle-based delivery vehicles for immunomodulatory applications. In specific, I investigated how polymer chemistry affected dendritic cell activation in vitro as well as enhanced and sustained vaccine-based immune responses in vivo. In September 2010 I began a postdoctoral fellowship at the Institute for Regenerative Engineering at the University of Connecticut Health Center working with Professor Cato Laurencin. My postdoctoral research focuses on designing novel biomaterial-based strategies capable of providing the necessary chemical, biological, and mechanical cues necessary to regenerate musculoskeletal tissues. Specifically, I have shown that ions and simple molecules can differentiate stem cells down desired lineages while simultaneously inducing these cells to produce their own growth and differentiation factors. A major focus of my research is the application of basic science and engineering principles to the development of new biomedical technologies which has so far yielded 7 research publications, 6 review articles and book chapters, and 2 patent applications.

During this poster session I will highlight examples from my graduate and postdoctoral research that demonstrate the capacity of synthetic biomaterials to initiate and sustain immune responses and direct musculoskeletal tissue development. Building on my past work, I will outline my plans to build a distinguished, independent research program at the interface of chemical engineering, biomedical engineering, materials science, and immunology. In specific, I will discuss how musculoskeletal tissue engineering provides opportunities to apply novel biomaterials strategies. The overarching goal of my research lab will be to exploit biomaterials to generate complex musculoskeletal tissue regeneration. This goal is comprised of three research thrusts: 1) improving vascularization in musculoskeletal tissue engineering, 2) facilitating immunomodulatory regenerative tissue engineering, and 3) utilizing combinatorial design and evaluation in tissue engineering.

Related References:

1)      K.W.H. Lo*, B.D. Ulery*, K.M. Ashe, H.M. Kan, and C.T. Laurencin. “Evaluating the feasibility of the small molecule phenamil as a novel osteoinductive factor for bone regenerative engineering.” (Submitted to Journal of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine)

2)      K.W.H. Lo*, B.D. Ulery*, K.M. Ashe, and C.T. Laurencin. “Inducations and use of bone morphogenetic proteins in surgical repair of bone and spine.” (In Press)

3)      M.S. Peach, S.G. Kumbar, R. James, U.S. Toti, B.D. Ulery, D. Balasubramaniam, A.D. Mazzocca, M.B. McCarthy, N.L. Morozowich, H.R. Allcock, and C.T. Laurencin. “Design and optimization of polyphosphazene functionalized fiber matrices for soft tissue regeneration.” Journal of Biomedical Nanotechnology. 8(1): 107-124. (Feb 2012)

4)      B.D. Ulery*, L.K. Petersen*, Y. Phanse, C.S. Kong, S.R. Broderick, D. Kumar, A. E. Ramer-Tait, B. Carillo-Conde, K. Rajan, B.H. Bellaire, M.J. Wannemuehler, D.W. Metzger, and B. Narasimhan. “Rational design of pathogen-mimicking amphiphilic materials as nanoadjuvants.” Scientific Reports. 1(198) (Dec 2011)

5)      L.K. Petersen, A.E. Ramer-Tait, S.R. Broderick, C.S. Kong, B.D. Ulery, K. Rajan, M.J. Wannemuehler, and B. Narasimhan. “Amphiphilic polyanhydride nanoparticle adjuvants activate innate immune responses in a pathogen-mimicking manner.” Biomaterials. 32(28): 6815 - 6822. (Oct 2011)

6)      B.D. Ulery, L.S. Nair, and C.T. Laurencin. “Biomedical applications of biodegradable polymers.” Journal of Polymer Physics Part B: Polymer Physics. 49(12):832 - 864. (Jun 2011)

7)      B.D. Ulery*, D. Kumar*, A.E. Ramer-Tait, D.W. Metzger, M.J. Wannemuehler, and B. Narasimhan. “Design of a protective single-dose intranasal nanoparticle-based vaccine platform for respiratory infectious diseases.” PLoS One, 6(3): e17642. (Mar 2011)

8)      B.D. Ulery, Y. Phanse, A. Sinha, M.J. Wannemuehler, B. Narasimhan, and B.H. Bellaire. “Polymer chemistry influences monocytic uptake of polyanhydride nanospheres.” Pharmaceutical Research, 26(3): 683 - 690. (Mar 2009)

9)      B.D. Ulery, K. Pustulka, Y. Phanse, B. Bellaire, and B. Narasimhan. “Amphiphilic polyanhydride chemistry affects monocytic association of nanospheres.” Proceedings of the 37^th Annual Biochemical Engineering Symposium, 37: 52 - 59. (Jan 2009)

* These Authors Contributed Equally