Electrically conducting biomaterials have garnered new attentions from bioengineers since they can electrically modulate cellular functions and communicate with cells via electrical signals at the material interface, which can utilized for various biomedical applications such as tissue engineering scaffolds and prosthetic electrodes. My research has been focused on engineering of biomaterials with electrically conducting organic materials (i.e., polypyrrole and graphene) and investigation of cell and tissue responses. First, biocompatible three dimensional conducting nanofibrous scaffolds were produced from poly(lactide-co-glycolide) nanofibers and polypyrrole as neural tissue scaffolds. Electrical stimulation and scaffold structures could enhance neuronal cell growth and differentiation. Further modification of the conducting nanoscaffolds with nerve growth factor allowed for inherent neurotrophic activity. Neurite formation and elongation was observed with multiple stimuli including ‘electrical’, ‘physical’, and ‘biochemical’ cues. In addition, novel electrically polymerizable pyrrole-hyaluronic acid conjugates (PyHA) were synthesized and utilized for the development of biocompatible neural prosthetic probes. The modified electrode interfaces prevented adhesion and migration of inflammatory cells (i.e., reactive astrocytes). In vivo implantation revealed that the PyHA modified probes reduced inflammatory astrocyte activity in brain compared to unmodified probe controls. Lastly, an electrical elastomer, graphene-layered PDMS (polydimethylsiloxane), was fabricated as a flexible platform capable of modulating cellular responses with external electrical stimulation and tunable material mechanical properties. Cellular interactions with these materials were demonstrated with skeletal muscle cell growth and myotube formation. I envision that the ultimate progression of these studies will facilitate the use of electrically conducting materials as bio-interfaces to modulate tissue function.
한국생물공학회 [The Korean Society for Biotechnology and Bioengineering]
설립연도
1984
분야
공학>생물공학
소개
이 법인은 생물 공학의 발전과 보급에 이바지하고, 회원 상호 간의 연구 협력과 친목을 도모함을 목적으로 한다
1. 생물공학 분야의 발전을 위한 연구 협력
2. 생물공학의 실용화를 촉진시키기 위한 산학 협동
3. 학술연구 발표회, 강연회, 연수회 등 학술활동의 개최
4. 국,영문 학술지,소식지,학술회의 Proceedings 및 학술도서의 발간
5. 생물공학 발전을 위한 정책 건의
6. 기타 국제 교류 등 본 학회의 목적 달성을 위한 제반 활동