Cartilage Engineering and Regeneration

Our laboratory engineers microenvironments to control the fate of cells being used in tissue repair, with the main application being cartilage lesions and microcracks. The approaches include the development of patterned, functionalized hydrogels, mediation of cell-cell and cell-tissue adhesion through nano-coatings and surface treatment, control of inflammation and oxygen tension pathways, and release of cytoskeletal- and Rho GTPase-modifying small molecules to achieve stable phenotypes. Using additive manufacturing (bioprinting), it is possible to combine these tools to generate spatially complex tissues containing multiple cell types and materials. Our goal is the translation of these technologies to the clinics to improve the outcome of current cell-based therapies.