Using modified collagen scaffolds to promote angiogenesis for tissue
engineering applications
Julie M. EtheridgeTissue Engineering and Biomaterials Laboratory
Fischell Department of BioengineeringUniversity of Maryland, College Park, MD
A. James Clark School of EngineeringRISE Leadership Academy
Leadership in Research
• Project Objective:• To promote the formation of pre-vascular networks in engineered tissue
constructs by immobilizing an angiogenic growth factor (platelet derived growth factor, PDGF-BB) on collagen scaffolds
1. Immobilize growth factor on 3-dimensional collagen hydrogel scaffolds
2. Examine effect of growth factor on vascularization of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) in monolayer
• Project Significance: • Bridge the gap between tissue engineering and clinical/industry
applications by developing functional tissue grafts for implantation
End of Semester Report • Project Conclusions:
• Objective 1• Collagen hydrogels successfully
modified with PDGF-BB• Objective 2
• Low concentration of PDGF-BB induces long term angiogenic marker expression
• High concentration of PDGF-BB inhibits rapid endothelial sprout formation
PDGF-BB induced pre-vascular networkCollagen hydrogels containing encapsulated HUVECs
Leadership in research
• Presented project findings as a representative of the University of Maryland at the 2014 ACC Meeting of the Minds undergraduate student research conference