# Multi-Tissue Craniofacial Engineering using 3D-BMP9-Notch-Synergized Graphene Citrate Composite Scaffolds

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO · 2022 · $462,813

## Abstract

PROJECT ABSTRACT
An attractive modality for bone and soft tissue regeneration involves the use of pluripotent mesenchymal stem
cells that are induced by osteogenic and dermogenic cues. Furthermore, the delivery of engineered cells within
3D-printed, “smart” scaffolds tailored to any shape would make an ideal approach to rapidly repair battlefield
injuries. Our overall goal is to investigate capacity of BMP-9-induced, Notch pathway-synergized human adult-
derived urine stem cells seeded onto unique, polydiocitrate-graphene hybrid scaffolds, to heal critical-sized multi-
tissue defects in the rat scalp/cranium. This project is based on the hypothesis that the combination of BMP-9-
Notch-induced stem cell osteogenesis and a three-dimensional scaffold capable of hosting stem cell
differentiation along osteogenic and dermogenic lineages will lead to adequate reconstruction of critical-sized
multi-tissue craniofacial defects. To test this hypothesis, the following specific aims are proposed: 1) To
investigate the mechanisms by which BMP9 induced human urine progenitor stem cells (HUPs) repair trauma-
induced cranial defects in vivo; 2) To develop structural composite scaffolds that can be customized to fit and
regenerate a critical-sized skin and bone calvarial defect in a rodent model. These specific aims will be addressed
by the following experimental design: 1) Treatment of critical-sized rat cranial defects with iHUPs transduced
with BMP9 and abrogation of defect healing with Notch inhibition and; 2) Design and incorporation of 3D-printable
mPOC-graphene/A5G81-PPCN hybrid scaffolds using micro-CLIP technology and testing of scaffold
permutations in a novel multi-tissue rat scalp-cranial defect.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10380790
- **Project number:** 5R01DE030480-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO
- **Principal Investigator:** Russell R. Reid
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $462,813
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2021-04-01 → 2026-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10380790

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10380790, Multi-Tissue Craniofacial Engineering using 3D-BMP9-Notch-Synergized Graphene Citrate Composite Scaffolds (5R01DE030480-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10380790. Licensed CC0.

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