Award Abstract #0651739
Engineering Control of Embryonic Stem Cell Microenvironments during Differentiation via Integration of Degradable Biomaterials
NSF Org: |
CBET
Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental, and Transport Systems
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Initial Amendment Date: |
July 17, 2007 |
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Latest Amendment Date: |
May 20, 2008 |
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Award Number: |
0651739 |
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Award Instrument: |
Standard Grant |
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Program Manager: |
Semahat S. Demir
CBET Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental, and Transport Systems
ENG Directorate for Engineering
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Start Date: |
July 15, 2007 |
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Expires: |
June 30, 2010 (Estimated) |
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Awarded Amount to Date: |
$275964 |
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Investigator(s): |
Todd McDevitt todd.mcdevitt@bme.gatech.edu(Principal Investigator)
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Sponsor: |
GA Tech Research Corporation - GA Institute of Technology
Office of Sponsored Programs
Atlanta, GA 30332 404/894-4819
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NSF Program(s): |
BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING
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Field Application(s): |
0000099 Other Applications NEC, 0203000 Health
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Program Reference Code(s): |
SMET,OTHR,9251,9231,9178,7237,004E,0000
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Program Element Code(s): |
5345
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ABSTRACT
0651739
McDevitt
The project will incorporate rentinoic acid (RA) into Poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) PLGA microspheres, incorporate them into embryoid bodies (EBs), and test their release on embryonic stem (ES) cell differentiation into neuron-like cells. The specific aims are: (1) Determine that microparticles can be incorporated within EBs (2) Determine the spatial distribution of delivered pharmaceuticals within an EB, and (3) Compare particle-released RA to exogenous RA on ES cell differentiation.
The research will develop a general strategy for increasing differentiation of embryonic stem cells (within embryoid bodies) into a particular lineage. Based on evidence that pharmaceutical agents do not freely diffuse into EBs, the investigator proposes that this barrier may be overcome if drug-releasing microparticles are incorporated into EBs. This fundamental approach can have broad applicability to the directed differentiation of ES cells. In the long term this project has the potential to provide significant new information in work toward using stem cells for multiple therapies that require their controlled differentiation.
The project includes training of high school and undergraduate students through established mechanisms at Georgia Institute of Technology.
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