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Welcome to West Lab!
Our research in biomaterials and tissue engineering involves the synthesis, development, and application of novel biofunctional materials, and the use of biomaterials and engineering approaches to study biological problems. Ongoing projects in the West Lab include: Tissue Engineered Vascular Grafts There is tremendous need for materials for small diameter vascular grafts. Synthetic materials have not proved suitable, and tissue transplantation is limited. Tissue engineering may provide an answer. The West lab is approaching this problem from two directions; synthesis of novel scaffold materials that mimic extracellular matrix and genetic manipulation of the cells seeded into these scaffolds. The scaffold materials under development provide signals to promote cell adhesion, to control synthesis of matrix proteins, to regulate cell growth, and to allow degradation of the polymer as new tissue forms. The goals for genetic engineering of smooth muscle and endothelial cells are to reduce thrombosis and improve the mechanical properties of the engineered arteries. NO-Releasing Polymers Nitric oxide (NO) has been shown to have anti-thrombotic activity and to inhibit smooth muscle cell proliferation. Thus, NO may be useful in the prevention of restenosis, a frequent complication of procedures such as balloon angioplasty that is related to thrombosis and smooth muscle cell proliferation. The West lab is developing novel biomaterials that produce NO for sustained periods under physiological conditions. In addition to the potential therapeutic applications, these materials can be utilized as a powerful new tool to allow us to investigate the effects of nitric oxide on cells and tissues. Mechanisms of Restenosis Thin hydrogel coatings can be used to prevent thrombosis and isolate the arterial wall from blood contact after injury. When this is done after angioplasty procedures in animals, restenosis is virtually eliminated. To gain insight into the roles of factors derived from thrombosis and blood, local drug delivery approaches can be combined with arterial coatings to provide exposure to these factors individually and at known levels. Through this, the West lab is hoping to gain unique insight into the biological mechanisms involved in restenosis and arterial wound healing. Medical Applications of Metal Nanoshells Nanoshells are a new type of nanoparticle with tunable optical properties. For medical applications, these particles can be designed to strongly absorb or scatter light in the near infrared where tissue and blood are relatively transparent. In a cancer therapy application, nanoshells are designed to absorb light and convert the energy to heat for tumor destruction. By conjugating antibodies or peptides to the nanoshell surfaces, binding of nanoshells can be targeted to cancerous cells, and subsequent exposure to near infrared light results in specific and localized destruction of the cancerous cells. A photothermally modulated drug delivery system, optically-controlled valves for microfluidics devices, and a rapid whole blood immunoassay are also under development using nanoshells. |  |
