Lindsey Douglas
Pronouns: She/her
Research Mentor(s): Yuji Mishina
Co-Presenter:
Research Mentor School/College/Department: Biological and Material Sciences / Dentistry
Presentation Date: April 20
Presentation Type: Poster
Session: Session 4 – 2:40pm – 3:30 pm
Room: League Ballroom
Authors: W. Benton Swanson , Yuji Mishina
Presenter: 39
Abstract
This study aimed to learn more about how the curvature of scaffold macropores influence cell differentiation and proliferation. The starting hypothesis predicts that large pore scaffolds better facilitate bone formation, while small pore scaffolds are more effective for maintaining stemness. The scaffold biomaterial was developed from poly(L-lactic acid) by a sugar-sphere porogen method, which was then frozen. After creating both small (65-120um diameter) and large (250-425um diameter) pores, bone marrow stromal cells and cranial suture mesenchymal stem-cells isolated from mice were cultured onto the scaffolds. For both the bone marrow stromal cells and the cranial suture mesenchymal stem-cells, three types of samples were taken from each. These three samples included virgin samples, deformed samples, and recovered samples. After about 3 weeks, image analysis was performed through Fiji, a computer programming system. Specifically, the analysis measured the circularity of the pores from each three samples. The results showed that after deformation, the recovered samples significantly re-established their virgin circularity. Additionally, using immunofluorescence, our results and analysis of YAP activity supported the initial hypothesis. The small pores showed minimal YAP activation, suggesting that stemness has been maintained. Conversely, the large pore samples increased gene expression related to YAP and therefore bone formation. The evidence from this study suggests that pore curvature is an essential design motif for maintaining stemness or increasing bone formation.
Biomedical Sciences, Interdisciplinary, Natural/Life Sciences
