Mechanical stiffness-defined matrices for stem cell research and drug screening
Name
317402676-MIT.pdf
Description
Full printable version
Size
40.97 MB
Format
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Checksum (MD5)
8f6db989389f97a22d84da05eb47943d
Author(s)
Ha, Vu Nguyen Tuan
Advisor(s)
Krystyn J. Van Vliet.
Date Issued
2008
Publisher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Abstract
Synthetic polymer matrices or subtrata with tailored elastic properties provide a powerful method to direct biological cell' differentiation and foster cell multiplication. By changing the stiffness of the substrate, human mesenchymal stem cell (MSCs) could be directed along neuronal, muscle, or bone lineages. Matrix elastic modulus can also control anchorage dependent cell's motility, localization, tissue formation and organization. Besides that, synthetic materials such as biodegradable polymers offer a versatile alternative to naturally derived biopolymers. Their mechanical properties can be highly tailored and they are easy to synthesize and shape. Moreover, these platforms can be readily "biologically" fine-tuned toward a particular cell linage by incorporating well-documented parameters, which play crucial roles in cell-extra cellular matrix (ECM) signaling pathway, such as growth factor, surface topology and stimulation signal. Hence, these materials are suitable candidates to develop engineered matrices for stem cell culture, cell manipulating platforms in biological research and drug development. In this thesis, commercialization aspects of these engineered matrices for stem cell research, cell culture and drug development markets are evaluated both in USA and in Singapore markets. Technological barriers, intellectual property and a preliminary cost model are analyzed. A business plan is presented and discussed for applications in both the stem cell research and the drug screening markets. Although these two markets are ill-defined, both of them are growing rapidly and appear to be very promising. A review of the technology itself led to the conclusion that the matrix is capable of induce anchorage dependent cell into specific lineage but the success rate is not yet quantified and further research need to be done to achieve good reproducibility and to meet the required efficacy of the industry.
Description
Thesis (M. Eng.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering, 2008.
MIT Science Library copy: printed in leaves.
Also issued printed in leaves.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 74-78).
Subjects
Materials Science and Engineering.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Materials Science and Engineering
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