# Improving Biomaterial Implant Tolerance with Damage-Associated Molecular Pathway (DAMP) Molecule Attachment

> **NIH NIH R21** · UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA · 2020 · $197,978

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
A key determinant of the success of a biomaterial implant is its interactions with the host immune system, which
often determines whether the biomaterial will survive and/or provide any benefit to the host. Every biomaterial
implantation initiates a wound environment of varying intensity and activation of host immunity is dependent on
leukocyte stimulation via pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) on the cell surface. PRRs recognize both foreign
pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) that are common on microorganisms (signaling infection) and
damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) that arise from cell stress, damage, or death (infection
independent). Due to their role in a non-pathological tissue response, we believe surface treatment of implants
with DAMP molecules can greatly diminish fibrotic bioimplant response and can even counteract the signaling
of more inflammatory PAMP molecules. We have invented a biomaterial platform with highly tunable surface
chemistry (to allow DAMP attachment) and an extremely low inherent fibrotic biomaterial response called
Microporous Annealed Particle (MAP) scaffolding. We will use a murine model of injection-implant of the MAP
scaffolding to identify DAMPs that instruct productive wound healing and/or limit the negative consequences
PAMP-mediated biomaterial rejection. This will have important consequences for our understanding of the
wound healing environment and represent proof of principle experiments for a tool that can be harnessed to
improve wound healing, induce scar remodeling, and limit negative immune responses at bioimplant sites.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10057727
- **Project number:** 1R21EB028971-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA
- **Principal Investigator:** Sarah E. Ewald
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $197,978
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-08-01 → 2023-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10057727

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10057727, Improving Biomaterial Implant Tolerance with Damage-Associated Molecular Pathway (DAMP) Molecule Attachment (1R21EB028971-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10057727. Licensed CC0.

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