2022 Fiscal Year Research-status Report
Development of immunomodulatory scaffolds for tissue regeneration
| Project/Area Number |
22K20989
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| Research Institution | Osaka University |
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Principal Investigator |
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| Project Period (FY) |
2022-08-31 – 2024-03-31
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| Keywords | Scaffolds / Macrophages / Immunomodulation / Biomaterials / Tissue regeneration |
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| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
Our poly(lactic acid/caprolactone) copolymer (PLCL) technology was used to fabricate porous scaffolds of different sizes, from 200 um to 2.5 mm thickness. This achievement means that PLCL scaffolds can be adapted to numerous applications in tissue regeneration, and are not limited to bone regeneration as initially hypothesized in our proposal. Gas plasma treatment of PLCL scaffolds was performed, and new functional groups were detected by FTIR-spectroscopy. However, field emission SEM revealed different degrees of structural damage. Macrophages cultured on PLCL scaffolds showed a proliferation rate comparable to that of control materials; however, signs of scaffold degradation were observed by SEM, indicating that macrophages were engaged in the breakdown and phagocytosis of PLCL scaffold.
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| Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
2: Research has progressed on the whole more than it was originally planned.
Reason
We have established a modified method to fabricate PLCL porous scaffolds in various sizes. The PLCL scaffolds treated with gas plasma presented functional groups that can be used for loading bioactive molecules such as cytokines. Further evaluations of cytokine loaded PLCL can be performed within this fiscal year (2023). Overall, we believe that this research is progressing smoothly.
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| Strategy for Future Research Activity |
Considering the different degrees of damage to the PLCL scaffold structure observed by field emission SEM, we plan to further optimize the parameters for gas plasma treatment and minimize the damage. Additionally, plasma treated scaffolds will be loaded with a reference protein (bovine serum albumin) or with an immunomodulatory cytokine (interleukin 4), for analyzing their release profile. Finally, phagocytic activity and cytokine release of macrophages cultured on PLCL scaffolds will be evaluated.
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| Causes of Carryover |
I planned to submit the results to publication in a scientific journal, so the incurring amount would be used for paying article processing charges. However, I have decided to gather more results this year and aim for publication in a higher impact factor journal in 2023. Therefore, there are funds to carry over to 2023, which will be used to pay for future article processing charges.
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