Biophysics and Tissue Engineering

[Ali Inam]

I have been given an assignment to find out about the applications of modern biophysics in tissue engineering !

I just need a little background on how biophysics and tissue engineering are inter-related (if they are).


I just had an idea that they might be something about some tissue structures and their physical properties etc..

But really need some proper starting, which I am still unable to find.

Regards !

 

[Andy Resnick]

There's a lot of material out there in regards to 'scaffolding'- the materials cells grow on. The physical properties of the scaffolding (rigidity, etc) can determine what type of cell a stem cell will differentiate into. Also, 3-d scaffolding for bone grafts.

There's also a lot of work on co-culturing different cell types, towards making organs.

 

[Kmenex]

Yes,

As Andy had mentioned the "scaffoldings" are very important for tissue engineering. The design of the scaffolding must be approached with sound science and tight control of material properties in order to obtain meaningful technology. There is a considerable attention being placed on how mechanical forces and physical structures play a role in signalling and intra-cell diffusion of bio-molecular species. Naturally we can see that extra-cellular matrices (natural or artificial) will contain many physical properties that will affect cell vitality. Let me find you some links.

http://newscenter.lbl.gov/news-releases/2010/03/11/berkeley-scientists-get-physical-with-cancer/

http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/sci;327/5971/1380?maxtoshow=&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&fulltext=%22Restriction+of+Receptor+Movement+Alters+Cellular+Response%22&searchid=1&FIRSTINDEX=0&resourcetype=HWCIT