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http://hdl.handle.net/11375/22249
Title: | SELF-CROSSLINKING P(APM-CO-AA) MICROSTRUCTURED FILMS AND NANOFIBROUS SCAFFOLDS AS BIOMIMETIC SCAFFOLDS |
Authors: | Zhou, Christal |
Advisor: | Moran-Mirabal, Jose Stöver, Harald |
Department: | Chemistry and Chemical Biology |
Keywords: | polymer;scaffolds |
Publication Date: | 17-Nov-2017 |
Abstract: | In nature, cells reside within an extracellular matrix (ECM), consisting of 3-dimensional (3D) networks of collagen and elastin which provide biophysical/chemical signals to direct cellular development and behaviour. Traditional methods of studying cellular behaviour often involve using 2-dimensional in vitro models that are convenient and cost-effective, but may not be representative of 3D in vivo conditions. A synthetic polyampholyte system, poly(N-(3-aminopropyl)methacrylamide hydrochloride-co-acrylic acid) [p(APM-co-AA)], was used here for the first time to construct two types of 3-dimensionally structured cell supports to mimic the ECM: microstructured films and nanofibrous scaffolds. Microstructured films were fabricated using a shape-memory polymer structuring approach and nanofibrous scaffolds were formed using electrospinning. Both films and nanofibers were thermally crosslinked by reaction of initially formed anhydride groups with pendant amines. Film topography was tuned through polymer solution concentration, and the surface chemistry of the crosslinked p(APM-co-AA) scaffolds was tuned by reaction of residual anhydride groups with hydrophilic or hydrophobic amines. The effects of film surface topography and surface chemistry on fibroblast morphologies were explored using fluorescence microscopy. This work presents the fabrication and characterization of tunable, self-crosslinking p(APM-co-AA) scaffolds as promising ECM mimics. |
URI: | http://hdl.handle.net/11375/22249 |
Appears in Collections: | Open Access Dissertations and Theses |
Files in This Item:
File | Description | Size | Format | |
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Zhou_Christal_2017August_M.Sc..pdf | 45.3 MB | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
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