Designing Biomaterials with Tunable, Spatially Organized Properties

Lesley Chow, PhD
Lehigh University

Abstract: Biological tissues are complex materials where the spatial arrangement of multiple components (i.e., extracellular matrix, cells) is tightly linked to their function. For example, osteochondral tissues contain discrete biochemical and physical gradients across the bone-cartilage interface that are critical for functional load transfer in our articulating joints. Our lab is focused on strategies to fabricate biomaterials with spatially tunable biochemical and physical properties to engineer issues with native-like organization. To achieve this, we have developed a versatile approach using end-functionalized polymer conjugates that enable us to independently control surface chemistry, scaffold architecture, and scaffold stiffness. Functional groups become displayed on the surface during fabrication, eliminating the need for post-processing modification steps. Multiple chemistries can therefore be spatially presented by using multiple printer heads during a single 3D printing session. In parallel, we can independently and simultaneously control scaffold architecture and stiffness by changing print patterns and polymer molecular weight, respectively. This seminar will describe our plaƞorm and how we are developing 3D-printed materials to guidetissue regeneration for complex tissues like the osteochondral interface.

Biography: Dr. Lesley Chow is an associate professor in Materials Science and Engineering and Bioengineering at Lehigh University. She received her bachelor's degree in MSE from the University of Florida, doctoral degree in MSE from Northwestern University, and postdoctoral training at Imperial College London. She leads the Modular Biomaterials Laboratory focused on developing molecular building blocks to construct spatially organized materials for functional tissue regeneration. Dr. Chow has received recognition for her teaching, and service, including the National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER Award, 3M Non-Tenured Faculty Award, American Chemical Society (ACS) Polymeric Materials: Science and Engineering (PMSE) Young Investigator Award, the Early-Career Undergraduate Research Mentoring Award (ECURMA) in Engineering from the Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR), Rossin Award for Interdisciplinary Research Excellence, Rossin Award for Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity, Rossin Award for Outstanding Doctoral Student Advising, and the Society for Biomaterials Mid-Career Award.