Novel polymer constructs for controlled release and presentation of topographic cues in support of neuronal cells
Name
318914407-MIT.pdf
Description
Full printable version
Size
6.27 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
7c71c30b0abbfcd1af82ae53b0de5fe4
Author(s)
Ediriwickrema Asiri (Asiri S.)
Advisor(s)
Robert Langer and Rajiv Saigal.
Date Issued
2008
Publisher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Abstract
In order to improve nerve healing, a new treatment that uses conductive polymer scaffolds to bridge gaps between damaged nerve ends and deliver drugs controllably was explored. In order to optimize neuron growth across scaffolding a neuronal scaffold designed with an electrically conductive polymer, polypyrrole (PPy), will be used as a substrate to enhance nerve cell interaction in vitro. The polymer will be analyzed for the capacity to influence cellular phenotype, including via controlled biomolecular delivery and surface topography. This thesis showed that all these concepts are possible and begins to optimize these characteristics. Successfully optimization of these scaffold characteristics will provide a novel method for treating injury in the central nervous system.
Description
Thesis (S.B.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 2008.
Includes bibliographical references (leaves 25-26).
Subjects
Mechanical Engineering.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Mechanical Engineering
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copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but
reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written
permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.
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