Conceptual Framework and Physical Implementation of a Systematic Design Strategy for Tissue-Engineered Devices

Author: Nawroth, Janna C.

Year: 2013

Degree: Dissertation (Ph.D.)

Advisor: Dabiri, John O.

Committee Members: Dabiri, John O.; Hay, Bruce A.; Sternberg, Paul W.; Fraser, Scott E.

Option: Biology

DOI: 10.7907/5ZTQ-2J09

Abstract

Tissue-engineered and biologically inspired devices promise to advance medical implants, robotic devices and diagnostic tools. Ideally, biohybrid constructs combine the versatility and fine control of traditional building substrates with dynamic properties of living tissues including sensory modalities and mechanisms of repair, plasticity and self-organization. These dynamic properties also complicate the design process as they arise from, and act upon, structure-function relationships across multiple spatiotemporal scales that need to be recapitulated in the engineered tissue. Biomimetic designs merely copying the structure of native organs and organisms, however, are likely to reflect evolutionary constraints, phenotypic variability and environmental factors rather than rendering optimal engineering solutions.

This thesis describes an alternative to biomimetic design, i.e., a systematic approach to tissue engineering based on mechanistic analysis and a focus on functional, not structural, approximation of native and engineered system. As proof of concept, the design, fabrication and evaluation of a tissue-engineered jellyfish medusa with biomimetic propulsion and feeding currents is presented with an emphasis on reasoning and strategy of the iterative design process. A range of experimental and modeling approaches accomplishes mechanistic analysis at multiple scales, control of individual and emergent cell behavior, and quantitative testing of functional performance. The main achievement of this thesis lies in presenting both conceptual framework and physical implementation of a systematic design strategy for muscular pumps and other bioinspired and tissue-engineered applications.

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