1. UNM / Harvard PREM Seed Project Influence of Active Materials on Cellular Functions Juila E. Fulghum, University of New Mexico, DMR 0611616 Research Goal: To determine appropriate physical properties of an underlying substrate to direct cellular extra-cellular matrix production for the synthesis of functional tissues. Tissues of interest: bone and aortic heart valve. 2010-2011 Accomplishments: This year we gave 10 contributred presentations at national and international meetings and published 2 manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals (see below). Additionally, we have filed two patent applications. Work on the effects of substrate properties on valvular interstitial cells (VICs) has continued. We have developed a model system for the assessment of the effects of substrate stiffness on cellular functions using n- octyl methacrylate and diethylene glycol dimethacrylate. By varying the ratio of the two monomers, solid substrates which vary in material stiffness can be achieved 20 kPa to 20 MPa without appreciable changes in surface contact angle, chemistry, or topology. This novel platform is being used to explore the effect of stiffness on extra-cellular matrix production of the cells of the aortic heart valve. Results of these studies will guide the intelligent design of 3D scaffolds for valve tissue engineering. We have also made progress on designing new polyesters for bone tissue engineering. We have designed a controlled synthetic route for the co-polymer poly(butylene fumerate-co-maleate) with varying ratios of fumerate and maleate functionalities in the backbone. Therefore, we have created a polymer with the necessary mechanical and physical properties for orthopedic applications with a tunable rate of degradation. We have also been able to fabricate high surface to area non-woven fibrous scaffolds using a modified electrospinning method developed in our laboratory (patent application filed) (top figure). In collaboration with Harvard we are incorporating calcium phosphate and hydroxyapatite micro and nano-particles to create composite scaffolds that induce marrow stromal cells differentiation and bone formation. PUBS: Cicotte, K.N. *; Hedberg-Dirk, E.L.; Dirk, S.M., “Synthesis and Electrospun Fiber Mats of low T g Poly(Propylene Fumerate-co-Propylene Maleate),” Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 117, 1984-1991, 2010. Hedberg-Dirk, E.L.; Martinez, U.A.*, “Large-Scale Protein Arrays Generated with Interference Lithography for Spatial Control of Cell-Material Interactions,” Journal of Nanomaterials, 2010, Article ID 176750, 9 pages, 2010. PATENTS: Dirk, S.M., Hedberg-Dirk, E.L., Cicotte, K.N.*, “Electrospun Fiber Mats from Low Tg Polymers,” patent application filed, 12/943,803, November, 2010.; Hedberg-Dirk, E.L., Cicotte, K.N.*, Leonard, A.T.*, “Method of Assembly to Construct Tailorable Three Dimensional Micro/Nano Patterned Tissue Scaffolds”, provisional pattern filed,UNM-1014, March 2010. Funding for this research was provided by NSF PREM Grant # DMR-0611616.