Deok-Ho Kim, Ph.D.
Department of Bioengineering
E-mail: deokho@u.wa...


TITLE:

"Extracellular Matrix Control of Cell Function and Tissue Regeneration"


ABSTRACT

  Living tissues are intricate ensembles of cells of different types embedded in complex and
well defined structures of extracellular matrix (ECM).  In this talk, I will present our
interdisciplinary efforts directed towards better understanding of the role of physicochemical
interactions of living cells with the ECM in regulation of cellular and multi-cellular form and
function using synthetic nano-matrices.  Inspired by ultrastructural analysis of the native
tissues, I will particularly focus on cardiac and skeletal tissue engineering, in which
controlling cell-ECM interactions on the nanoscale can have dramatic consequences.  As novel
approaches to address these problems, I will introduce micro- and nanoengineering approaches
for producing scalable, nanotopographically-controlled models of physiologically relevant
tissue constructs mimicking the in vivo structural organization.  Using these tools in
combination with traditional molecular and cell biology approaches, I will highlight how these
biomimetic cell culture models enabled by micro and nanotechnologies help to gain better
understanding of the structure-function relationship in engineered cells and tissues, and allow
us to establish general principles for development of more precise and defined scaffolds for
advanced tissue engineering.  We propose that controlling cell-material interactions on the
nanoscale can stipulate structure and function on the tissue level, and yield novel insights
into in vivo tissue physiology, while providing scaffolding materials for tissue repair.