Lecture Series
Monday, April 29, 2024
Gateway 1002
12:00pm – 12:50pm
“Functional Shape Memory Tissue Grafts & Anti-Infective Implant Coatings”
Jie Song, Ph.D.
Department of Orthopedics & Physical Rehabilitation
Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biotechnology
UMass Chan Medical School
Abstract: Facile surgical delivery and stable fixation of synthetic tissue grafts play important roles in ensuring satisfactory guided tissue regeneration outcomes. Integrating a multitude of desired characteristics in a single scalable synthetic material, however, has proven difficult. I will discuss our work in designing biodegradable, thermally responsive shape memory polymers to enable smart surgical fixation, safe delivery of biotherapeutics, timely in vivo degradation, and functional guided long bone regeneration. I will also discuss a novel platform of prophylactic anti-infective implant coatings designed for on-demand release of therapeutic cargos, triggered by the presence of bacteria, to prevent periprosthetic infections.
Biography: Jie Song, Ph.D., is a Professor in the Department of Orthopedics and Physical Rehabilitation. With an aging population, the demand for synthetic tissue scaffolds assisting the regenerative reconstruction of skeletal defects resulting from trauma, cancer and metabolic diseases is rising. Our lab is interested in 1) designing functional synthetic matrices to guide bone and cartilage tissue regeneration; 2) identifying and implementing novel strategies for modulating synthetic niche properties as means to regulate stem cell fate; 3) improving osteointegration of and reducing periprosthetic infections associated with orthopedic metallic implants. Many of the synthetic matrices we designed are programmed with unique physical properties to facilitate surgical delivery (injectable formulations; minimally invasive delivery, and stable in vivo fixation), predictive in vivo degradation profiles, tunable biomechanical cues, and spatially controlled presentation and temporally controlled release of bioactive factors for regulating fate of stem/progenitor cells within the synthetic niche.
For a zoom link please contact June Norton at jnorton@wpi.edu or Kate Harrison at kharrison@wpi.edu