Vascularized Polymers for Spatially and Temporally Controlled Cell Stimulus
Principal Investigator: Caitlin Howell (Chemical and Biological Engineering, UMaine)
Partners: Sandra Rieger (MDI Biological Laboratory), Douglas Currie (USM)
Abstract: Nature uses vascular systems to facilitate and control many adaptable and dynamic responses of living tissue surfaces. In this work, we will use a new approach to create polymer surfaces designed to control cell stimuli both spatially and temporally using an approach inspired by natural vascular systems. This work will be a collaboration between Dr. Caitlin Howell of the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at the University of Maine, Dr. Sandra Rieger at the Kathryn W. Davis Center for Regenerative Biology & Medicine at MDI Biological Laboratory, and Dr. Douglas Currie of the Department of Biology at the University of Southern Maine. The support requested here will be used for Kayla Marquis (B.S. Biological Engineering, UMaine 2017) as she pursues her Master’s degree. Further support for Kayla will be provided by either PI Howell’s Start Up Funds or her department. The result will a new set of materials for use in tissue culture, which will contribute to Maine’s economy through (1) the expansion of a currently patented technology held by SLIPS Technologies, Inc, who would be interested in further commercializing and marketing the product to Maine-based biotechnology firms such as IDEXX and Corning Life Sciences in Kennebunk and (2) the development of research capabilities at MDI Biological Laboratory as well as the Universities of Maine and Southern Maine, which will serve to attracted both more talented researchers and more research dollars to the state