Amy
Proctor |
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email: aproctor AT
stanford DOT
edu
Dept: Chemical Engineering
B.S.
Chemical Engineering,
Caltech
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Stem cell transplantation has emerged as a promising strategy
for the treatment of traumatic injury and degenerative diseases. While
direct cell injection at the wound site is clinically favored due to
its minimal invasiveness, low levels of transplanted cell survival and
retention limit functional recovery. By encapsulating stem cells within
either natural biopolymer hydrogels such as alginate, collagen, and
Matrigel or engineered biomaterials such as MITCH, we may improve cell
viability by providing biomechanical protection, biochemical survival
cues, and/or cytocompatible scaffolds for cell adhesion. Using
microfluidics to create a controlled in vitro model of cell injection,
we are currently investigating the mechanical disruption of hydrogel
encapsulated cells during syringe flow to isolate points of cell damage
and to establish design principles for protective injectable scaffolds.
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