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
Initial Amendment Date:	July 17, 2007
Latest Amendment Date:	May 20, 2008
Award Number:	0651739
Award Instrument:	Standard Grant
Program Manager:	Semahat S. Demir CBET Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental, and Transport Systems ENG Directorate for Engineering
Start Date:	July 15, 2007
Expires:	June 30, 2010 (Estimated)
Awarded Amount to Date:	$275964
Investigator(s):	Todd McDevitt todd.mcdevitt@bme.gatech.edu(Principal Investigator)
Sponsor:	GA Tech Research Corporation - GA Institute of Technology Office of Sponsored Programs Atlanta, GA 30332 404/894-4819
NSF Program(s):	BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING
Field Application(s):	0000099 Other Applications NEC, 0203000 Health
Program Reference Code(s):	SMET,OTHR,9251,9231,9178,7237,004E,0000
Program Element Code(s):	5345

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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