Department of Biomedical Engineering Master's Thesis Defense

Leora Goldbloomhelzner

Title: Studying the Interplay between BMPR1a-Mediated Signaling and the Stiffness of the Neural Crest Cell Microenvironment during Chondrogenesis

Extensive research has been conducted to understand the role of the stem cell microenvironment, including growth factors and extracellular matrix composition and stiffness, in mediating chondrogenesis during development of the appendicular skeleton, but much is still unknown about the interplay of these factors during chondrogenic differentiation of neural crest cells (NCC) in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Over 30 million US adults suffer from osteoarthritis and for those whose condition is localized in the TMJ, tissue engineering studies and treatment are limited. With a better understanding of the crosstalk between cell microenvironment and BMP signaling, design of cartilage regeneration strategies for injured/diseased craniofacial joints can be improved. To investigate this interaction, we studied the chondrogenesis of NCCs with constitutively active BMPR1a receptors in a novel biosynthetic stem cell niche with tunable stiffness and pre-chondrocyte ECM ligand presentation. To reveal how a controlled variation of the microenvironment affects BMP-mediated chondrogenesis, we encapsulated NCCs in 7kPa and 30kPa PEG hydrogels to determine the effect of microenvironmental stiffness chondrogenesis of NCCs mediated by the BMPR1a receptor.

Chair: Rhima Coleman, Ph.D.