# Tissue Engineering Resource Center

> **NIH NIH P41** · COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES · 2022 · $326,732

## Abstract

SUMMARY
TRD1 will focus on the design and implementation of adaptive-responsive biomaterials to meet the
goals of the P41. These are biomaterials that can sense and actuate cells or respond to the local
environment to drive the functional restoration of complex tissue structures, in vitro and in vivo. The
hypothesis is that biomaterial systems with integrated features for activation/response can provide
specific benefits for designing scaffolds for restoration of tissue structure and function. These new
material systems will be integrated with the needs and goals of the other TRDs to optimize tissue
outcomes at both the fundamental and translational levels. The ultimate goal is to develop biomaterial
systems for functional restoration of complex tissue structures based on the response to changes in the
local environment (intrinsic signaling) or via applied changes (extrinsic signaling). The plans are to
develop materials that provide adaptive responses to changes in local biology and conditions (e.g., pH,
temperature reactive oxygen, enzymes) or to external signals (e.g., light, electric fields) to effect a
change to improve tissue function or regeneration goals. Control of mechanical properties, degradation
and release of bioactive factors to respond to local changes are examples of dynamic response-control
goals. The core biomaterials will be based on biopolymers (e.g., elastins, collagens, silks, hyaluronic
acid, others) as bioengineered variants and composites. Three specific aims will be pursued. Aim 1:
Biomaterials that dynamically change properties in response to local signals. These biopolymer
systems will provide core functions for sensing-response using silk-elastin chemistry and composite
designs with hyaluronic acid and collagen, for a broad range of utility for different cell and tissue needs.
Aim 2: Biomaterials that change properties on demand, in response to external stimuli. The
focus will be on light activation systems (via specific chemistries) or electric field-mediated changes (via
incorporated conductive components). The goal is to control the material volume, mechanics, and
delivery of bioactive factors in an on-demand mode, using external sources (light, electric field), to
control cell and tissue outcomes. Aim 3: “Smart” scaffolds for tissue regeneration and modeling of
disease. Scaffold designs based on the materials from Aims 1 and 2 will be utilized to generate
functional devices and tissue models for studies in TRD1, 2 and 3, in vitro and in vivo.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10434730
- **Project number:** 5P41EB027062-04
- **Recipient organization:** COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES
- **Principal Investigator:** DAVID L. KAPLAN
- **Activity code:** P41 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $326,732
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-09-16 → 2024-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10434730

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10434730, Tissue Engineering Resource Center (5P41EB027062-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10434730. Licensed CC0.

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