CANCELLED - BME Seminar Series (Zoom): Acellular Approaches for Musculoskeletal Tissue Engineering

Abstract: The Taylor Lab investigates the reparative processes of musculoskeletal tissues to inform the development of tailored acellular tissue engineering approaches, such as biomimetic matrices, tunable multifactorial delivery systems, and modified subcellular components, to  overcome deficiencies and complement the healing response. This talk will focus on the in vitro and in vivo evaluation of two independent three-dimensional systems to improve (1) bone regeneration and (2) tendon repair. First, the development and characterization of a novel osteoinductive pre-vascularized scaffold composed of electrospun synthetic and collagen-based materials designed to promote early vascularization for significant bone loss will be discussed. This innovative scaffold promoted the in vivo ingrowth of bone tissue and vasculature without the addition of growth factors or cells. Next, the biological and mechanical implications of a biocompatible nanofibrous bilayer delivery system (BiLDS) for local and sustained delivery of ibuprofen to mitigate inflammation in a rat rotator cuff injury and repair model will be featured. The  BiLDS reduced the in vivo pro-inflammatory response and improved tendon mechanics over time. This collection of work exploits the ability of acellular transformative technologies to provide physical and chemical cues for improved musculoskeletal tissue repair.

Bio: Brittany Taylor is an assistant professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Florida. Her group investigates the reparative processes of musculoskeletal tissues to inform the development of tailored tissue engineering approaches to overcome healing deficiencies. Taylor completed her postdoctoral training in the McKay Orthopaedic Research Laboratory at the University of Pennsylvania and received her Ph.D. and B.S in biomedical engineering from Rutgers University and the University of Virginia, respectively. She has been recognized as an MIT Rising Star in Biomedical Science, Top 100 Inspiring Black Scientist in America and Burrough Wellcome Fund Fellow.