Spatiotemporally Tunable Biomaterials

UMaine Alert

Posted: April 19, 2024 - 1:32 PM

At approximately 9:24 a.m. on Friday, April 19, a University of Maine graduate student was struck by a university vehicle on Long Road at the University of Maine campus in Orono. The student reports that they are at a local hospital with minor injuries.

Emergency services, including the Orono Fire Department, University Volunteer Ambulance Corps, University of Maine Police Department, Orono Police Department and Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene.

The university vehicle involved in the incident was a Chevrolet Express van. It was being operated by a university employee.

Counseling services and support are available for students, faculty or staff who may have been affected. The Counseling Center can be reached at 207-581-1392 and the Dean of Students Office can be reached at 207-581-1406.

The scene has been cleared and Long Road is now accessible. An investigation is being conducted by the University of Maine Police Department with assistance from the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office Crash Reconstruction Unit. Any witnesses to the incident are encouraged to contact Lt. Noel Santiago at noel.santiago@maine.edu.

Cells respond to numerous mechanical, topological, and chemical cues from their surroundings or extracellular matrix (ECM). Synthetic hydrogels are an excellent synthetic mimic that can be tuned to study how individual parameters affect cell fate, control cellular regeneration, and serve as scaffolds for biological growth.

We create new macromonomers from polysaccharides to synthesize biomaterials using orthogonal chemistry to independently pattern mechanical properties and chemicals. Additionally, we also incorporate new chemical and structure cues into biomaterials to control stem cell differentiation.

We are currently researching:

Composite cellulose derived biomaterials for human mesenchymal stem cell culture.

Hydrogels that incorporate glycans as a biological cue.

New hydrogel formulations for bioinks.

Spatiotemporally tunable biomaterials

Selected Publications

McOscar, T. V. C.; Gramlich, W. M. “Hydrogels from Norbornene-Functionalized Carboxymethyl Cellulose Using a UV-Initiated Thiol-Ene Click Reaction.” Cellulose 2018, 25, 6531 – 6545.

Hossen, M. R.; Dadoo, N.; Holomakoff, D. G.; Co, A.; Gramlich, W. M.; Mason, M. D. “Wet Stable and Mechanically Robust Cellulose Nanofibrils (CNF) Based Hydrogel.” Polymer 2018, 151, 231 – 241.

Kwon, M. Y.; Vega, S. L.; Gramlich, W. M.; Kim, M.; Mauck, R. L.; Burdick, J. A. “Dose and Timing of N-Cadherin Mimetic Peptides Regulate MSC Chondrogenesis within Hydrogels.” Advanced Healthcare Materials 2018, 1701199.

Dadoo, N.; Landry, S. B.; Bomar, J. D.; Gramlich, W. M. “Synthesis and spatiotemporal modification of biocompatible and stimuli responsive carboxymethyl cellulose hydrogels using thiol-norbornene chemistry.” Macromolecular Bioscience 2017, 17, 1700107.

Dadoo, N.; Gramlich, W. M. “Spatiotemporal modification of stimuli responsive hyaluronic acid/poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) hydrogels.” ACS Biomaterials Science and Engineering 2016, 2, 1341-1350.