University of Illinois at Chicago
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4-Dimensional Tissue Engineering via Cell Contractile Forces, Patterned RNA, and Kirigami

thesis
posted on 2024-08-01, 00:00 authored by Kaelyn Gasvoda
Shape evolution within tissue development and healing is necessary for proper tissue function. However, emulating the in vivo curvature within an in vitro environment is difficult. Often in vitro environments are missing the dynamic component their in vivo counterparts have. Recently, there has been headway in implementing 4D engineering strategies by adding an actuator that produces a time-based shape morphing phenomena that occurs post construct fabrication in response to a stimulus. Here, the use of cell contractile forces (CCF) with and without RNAi, and kirigami methodologies in combination with cytocompatible hydrogels for tissue engineering applications was investigated. Both CCF and kirigami strategies coupled with time-based shape morphing have been reported previously; however, the complexity and intracity of these strategies have not been thoroughly explored. First, a bilayer system was investigated to demonstrate uniform shape morphing throughout a single construct, and to show multiaxial directional curvature while maintaining high cell viability. Moreover, this system supports chondrogenic differentiation of encapsulated cells while undergoing a shape transformation. Second, a single layer rapidly degradable hydrogel system was fabricated to produce simple shape morphing constructs that became cell-only condensations after a few days of culture. This system also demonstrated high cell viability of encapsulated cells and high differentiation capacity of encapsulated cells. Third, a single layer rapidly degradable hydrogel system patterned with RNAi to reduce the CCF locally and temporarily within a small region of the hydrogel constructs. Furthermore, this system demonstrated controllable directionality of axial curvature. Fourth, kirigami strategies were explored to fabricate a system that has multiple degrees of deformation within the same construct. Within this system, encapsulated cells exhibit a high cell viability while the hydrogel is undergoing shape deformations, and this system’s curvature produced can be sustained by matrix deposition brought on by chondrogenesis of encapsulated stem cells.

History

Advisor

Eben Alsberg

Department

Biomedical Engineering

Degree Grantor

University of Illinois Chicago

Degree Level

  • Doctoral

Degree name

Doctor of Philosophy

Committee Member

Ramille Shah Jae Won Shin Richard Gemeinhart Amarjit Virdi

Thesis type

application/pdf

Language

  • en

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