Development of collagen scaffolds to address biomechanical design criteria for tendon–to–bone repair

The tendon-bone junction (TBJ) is a unique, mechanically dynamic and structurally graded anatomical zone which transmits tensile loads between tendon and bone. The TBJ repeatedly transmits high tensile loads to result in movement without failure by effectively dissipating stress concentrations which arise between mechanically dissimilar materials (tendon, bone). Upon injury, surgical repair techniques rely on mechanical fixation, and the local heterogeneities of the TBJ do not reform, causing poor functional outcomes (re-failure >90%). Biomaterial platforms and tissue engineering methods offer an alternative approach to address these injuries. Although current methods are moving towards multi-tissue regenerative approaches to address these injuries, it remains a challenge to fully characterize local mechanical and cellular heterogeneities within a single biomaterial using traditional techniques. Herein we describe a variety of collagen biomaterials which incorporate local changes and patterns in composition to create multi-compartment and composite scaffolds for the purpose of orthopedic regeneration. We demonstrate that these biomaterials exhibit enhanced, locally tunable mechanical properties, and are capable of providing mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) signals in a spatially selective manner. We highlight tradeoffs and synergies in local cellular and mechanical behavior, which give rise to the mechanisms behind observed differences in bulk cellular and biomaterial behavior. This work provides key insights into design elements under consideration for mechanically competent, multi-tissue biomaterial platforms which drive MSCs towards spatially distinct lineages for orthopedic regeneration.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Chemical Engineering

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2018

Author dc:creator

• Mozdzen, Laura C

Contributors dc:contributor

• Harley, Brendan A. C.
• Kong, Hyunjoon
• Leckband, Deborah E.
• Wagoner-Johnson, Amy J.

• collagen scaffold
• orthopedic tissue engineering
• mesenchymal stem cells
• biomechanics

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2016 Laura Mozdzen

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/100414

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/100414