Injectable Hydrogels for Biomedical Applications

#STEM, #Bioengineering

Title: Injectable Hydrogels for Biomedical Applications

Abstract
Hydrogels are a class of soft biomaterials with broad applications in
fundamental and applied research. While photopolymerization reactions
are commonly used to synthesize hydrogels, light is required for hydrogels
to form thereby limiting their applications to conditions where light is
readily available. In this presentation I will discuss the synthesis and
characterization of hydrogels that self-form in the absence of light. Stable
and enzymatically degradable macromers were modified with
norbornene (Nor) or tetrazine (Tet), which upon mixing click into
covalently crosslinked Nor-Tet hydrogels. By varying total macromer
concentration and ratios, hydrogels were synthesized with tunable
stiffness (5 to 30 kPa) and gelation times (1 to 6 minutes). By modifying
Nor-containing macromers with methacrylates, thiol-containing peptides
were coupled to methacrylates and used to form peptide-functionalized
Nor-Tet hydrogels. By changing hydrogel parameters (stiffness,
degradation), 2D matrix mechanosensing and 3D spreading of
mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were controlled. MSCs encapsulated in
Nor-Tet hydrogels containing peptides that mimic bone morphogenetic
protein-2 (BMP-2) also expressed high levels of bone biomarkers, and
injections with BMP-2 hydrogels into medullary cavities induced
trabecular bone growth in femurs. The hydrogels presented here feature
independently tunable biochemical and mechanical parameters, are
biocompatible, and retain their properties in vivo.

Biography
Sebastián L. Vega is an Assistant Professor in the Department of
Biomedical Engineering at Rowan University. His lab focuses on the design
of tunable biomaterials to control cell-material interactions with
applications in cell manufacturing and regenerative medicine.
Sebastian’s research is supported by grants from the NSF, NIH, Camden
Health Research Initiative, and Cooper Foundation. Prior to joining
Rowan, Sebastian was a postdoctoral researcher in Bioengineering at
Penn under the mentorship of Dr. Jason Burdick, where he studied the
role of biophysical and biochemical cues on cellular mechanosensing
and stem cell differentiation. Sebastian completed two B.S. degrees in
Chemical Engineering and Biomedical Engineering at Carnegie Mellon
University and received his Ph.D. in Chemical and Biochemical
Engineering from Rutgers University. As a Chilean native and firstgeneration
Ph.D. graduate, Sebastian is passionate about initiatives that
promote diversity, equity, and inclusion. Sebastian is the Chair of
Outreach and Community Engagement in his department and runs inperson
and virtual programs that provide regional high school students
with opportunities to learn about biomedical engineering and to
conduct academic research in engineering labs. To learn more about
the lab’s work, please follow @theVegaLab on Twitter.

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• GMU SciTech Campust
• 10900 University Blvd
• Manassas, Virginia
• United States 20110
• Building: Katherine Johnson Hall Rm 258

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• Thursday, September 29th
  12:00-1:00 pm EST

  Location:

  In-person at SciTech Campus:
  Katherine Johnson Hall, Rm 258
  Live streaming to Fairfax
  Campus: Horizon Hall, Rm 1012

• Co-sponsored by GMU BIOENGINEERING