# Layer-by-Layer Nano Matrix for Growth Plate Regeneration

> **NIH NIH R21** · UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT STORRS · 2023 · $214,335

## Abstract

Abstract
 Growth plate fracture in children represents a significant problem in clinics. Although only 15-30% of all
childhood fractures are growth plate fractures, because a growth plate determines the length and shape of a
mature bone, this type of fracture may result in severe growth abnormalities in patients. It is known that ~1.4%
of growth plate fractures result in some type of growth arrest, which can be angular deformities caused by
peripheral disturbances or longitudinal shortening when centrally located lesions occur. Growth plate fractures
that extend into the blood supply of the epiphysis enable the transport of bone marrow and mesenchymal stem
cells (MSCs) into the metaphyseal growth plate leading to the formation of a bony bridge and growth arrest.
Therefore, the key challenge to repairing a growth plate injury is how to mediate MSC differentiation spatially at
the injury site and restoring a growth and development that temporally matches the surrounding uninjured
cartilaginous growth plate. Currently, there is no clinically-approved tissue engineering therapy to treat growth
plate fractures. Surgery is the only available treatment, and is only offered after a bony bridge has formed. It
includes removing the bony bridge and inserting autologous fat or cartilage tissue into the empty space to
discourage bony bridge reformation. However, this surgical procedure is very invasive and has an
unsatisfactory success rate.
 To overcome these limitations, the objective of this proposal is to develop an injectable nano-matrix to
place cartilage-regenerating factors directly into the fracture, with multiple functional layers to control the timing
of drug delivery. Our central hypothesis is that we can develop a layer-by-layer nano-matrix (LbL-NM) to
achieve spatially and temporally controlled SDF1 and TGF-β1 delivery for growth plate regeneration. The
rationale that underlies the proposal is that once this injectable LbL-NM is developed to spatially and
temporally mediate MSC differentiation in mice, it can be further developed as a minimally invasive and highly
effective tissue engineering approach to treat growth plate fracture in a larger animal model. We will test our
central hypothesis by pursuing two specific aims: 1) Develop an LbL-NM to spatially control the delivery of
TGF-β1 and SDF1 in vitro and evaluate its treatment outcomes for growth plate regeneration in vivo, and 2)
Develop an LbL-NM to control the duration of TGF-β1 supply in the LbL-NM in vitro and evaluate its treatment
outcomes for growth plate regeneration in vivo. With the completion of this study, we expect to realize an LbL-
NM to achieve spatially and temporally controlled TGF-β1 and SDF1 delivery to mediate MSC differentiation in
an injured growth plate. This outcome would have an important positive impact on developing the first tissue
engineering approach to growth plate healing.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10649409
- **Project number:** 5R21AR079153-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT STORRS
- **Principal Investigator:** Yupeng Chen
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $214,335
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2022-06-17 → 2025-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10649409

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10649409, Layer-by-Layer Nano Matrix for Growth Plate Regeneration (5R21AR079153-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10649409. Licensed CC0.

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