Date of Award
2009
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Engineering Science
Program
Chemical and Biochemical Engineering
Supervisor
Dr. Kibret Mequanint
Abstract
In tissue engineering, scaffolds serve as the three-dimensional (3D) structural framework controlling cell behavior and ultimately the performance of the final construct. Cell interactions with synthetic scaffolds can be improved by attaching biomolecules such as proteins or peptides. Fibronectin (FN) is a protein that contains several domains including the cell adhesion tri-peptide, Arginine-Glycine-Aspartic Acid, allowing it to mediate cell attachment and proliferation on various substrates. In this work, FN was conjugated on 3D highly porous poly(carbonate) urethane (PCU) scaffolds through grafted poly(acrylic) acid (AA) spacers. Scaffolds were fabricated using a solvent casting-particulate leaching method. AA was grafted on the 3D scaffolds using a ceric ion initiator, and FN was conjugated using an N-hydroxysuccinimide intermediate. Scaffold pore structures were visualized using scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was used to monitor reaction progress. A toluidine blue assay was used to quantify grafted AA groups. Survey and high-resolution X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy scans of scaffolds provided changes in atomic composition and chemical
groups, respectively. Immunofluorescence studies showed FN to be evenly distributed over the scaffold surface
Recommended Citation
Dubey, Gaytri, "FIBRONECTIN CONJUGATION ONTO THREE-DIMENSIONAL POROUS POLYURETHANE SCAFFOLDS FOR VASCULAR TISSUE ENGINEERING" (2009). Digitized Theses. 4078.
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/digitizedtheses/4078