Stimuli responsive nanocellulose based matrices for differentiating cell growth


PhD / Long term visitor's project

Confocal microscope image of human fetal lung fibroblast-like cells (MRC-5) grown on a poly(vinyl alcohol)/CNC (16 wt. %) substrate after 5 days of incubation.
Confocal microscope image of human fetal lung fibroblast-like cells (MRC-5) grown on a poly(vinyl alcohol)/CNC (16 wt. %) substrate after 5 days of incubation.

Stem cells are a natural part of the human body’s regenerative processes, and have the capability to self-renew and to differentiate into many different types of tissue, depending on their environment.

In particular, the mechanical properties of a cell’s substrate (e.g. stiffness and texture) have an important impact on proliferation, migration, apoptosis, and differentiation during cell growth.

 

Meanwhile, nanocellulose have emerged as the next-generation biorefinery high added value product, and over the last decade, the interest in these new materials has exponentially increased due to the discovery of their outstanding properties. Recent studies in particular, have evidenced the stimuli responsive properties of nanocellulose and the possibility of using them for the preparation of “smart” polymers with adjustable features.

 

This project aims at developing a novel and innovative nanocellulose based substrate system, with stimuli-responsive tunable mechanical properties, i.e. adaptive stiffness and substructure, able to orient the growth of stem cells on its surface.

One of the key challenge of the project lies in the design of a substrate material which mechanical properties can be adjusted using an external stimuli that has to be harmless towards living cells.


CONTACTS

  • PI: Johan Foster
  • Co-PI: Julien Bras
  • PhD: Megan Smyth

PARTNERS

  • Adolf Merkle Institute of the University of Firbourg, Switzerland
  • LGP2

FUNDING

Tec21

 

 



Project update

Publications

 

M Smyth, C Fournier, C Driemeier, C Picart, EJ Foster, J Bras Tunable Structural and Mechanical Properties of Cellulose Nanofiber Substrates in Aqueous Conditions for Stem Cell Culture Biomacromolecules 18 (7), 2034-2044

M Smyth, C Rader, J Bras, EJ Foster Characterization and mechanical properties of ultraviolet stimuli‐responsive functionalized cellulose nanocrystal alginate composites Journal of Applied Polymer Science 135 (7)

M Smyth, MS M’Bengue, M Terrien, C Picart, J Bras, EJ Foster The effect of hydration on the material and mechanical properties of cellulose nanocrystal-alginate composites Carbohydrate polymers 179, 186-195

M Smyth, A García, C Rader, EJ Foster, J Bras Extraction and process analysis of high aspect ratio cellulose nanocrystals from corn (Zea mays) agricultural residue Industrial Crops and Products 108, 257-266

PhD defense: 27th of June 2017

 

Click here to access the full text

<< back