ABSTRACT
There are several indications for the use of permanent fillers for volumetric augmentation, including the correction of localized tissue atrophy and deficits due to trauma, tumor resections, infectious processes (i.e., HIV infection), and congenital craniofacial anomalies. In addition, injury and degeneration of specialized connective tissues, such as those found in the intervertebral disc of the spinal column, require surgical intervention to restore function. Tissue engineering strategies may provide novel replacement therapies for such damaged or diseased soft tissues.  However, there remains a need for biomaterials that are effective, biocompatible, renewable, and inexpensive. Potential candidates include derivatives of the plant polysaccharide, cellulose, which may be chemically modified to create injectable, in situ gelling materials with tunable properties tailored for specific clinical applications.  These hydrogels may be used alone or in combination with mesenchymal stem cells to engineer viable tissue analogs. This seminar will focus on the design of these cellulosic materials, considering multiple factors such as anatomical site and FDA regulatory pathways, to guide the research and development process toward eventual clinical translation.

Host: Johnna Temenoff, Ph.D.