Graduate Research
Biomaterials/Tissue Engineering (Pins)
Research focuses on understanding the interactions between cells and precisely bioengineered scaffolds that modulate cellular functions such as adhesion, migration, proliferation, differentiation and extracellular matrix remodeling. Understanding cellmatrix interactions that regulate wound healing and tissue remodeling will be used to improve the design of tissue-engineered analogs for the repair of soft and hard tissue injuries. Research areas include: (1) studies investigating the roles of microfabricated scaffolds on keratinocyte function for tissue engineering of skin, (2) development of tissue scaffolds that mimic the microstructural organization and mechanical responsiveness of native tissues, and (3) development of microfabricated cell culture systems to understand how extracellular matrix molecules regulate epithelial cell growth and differentiation.
Tissue Mechanics and Mechanobiology (Billiar)
The functionality of engineered connective tissues (e.g., skin, tendon, blood vessel) is intimately related to their mechanical properties. Furthermore, the response of the cells within these tissues is modulated not only by their chemical environment but also their mechanical environment. These aspects of tissue engineering are studied in the Tissue Mechanics and Mechanobiology Laboratory under the direction of Prof. Kristen Billiar.
Maintained by webmaster@wpi.eduLast modified: August 11, 2008 14:52:46