1. Intellectual Merit: The adhesion and spreading of human mesenchymal stem cells is greatly improved by incorporation of a small amount of hydroxyapatite into biodegradable fibrous scaffolds. This research is notable because biodegradable scaffolds produced by electrospinning can provide temporary structure to cells for bone regeneration. NIRT Publications: Current Nanosci. 2, 155-177 (2006) J. Nanosci. Nanotechnol. 6,487-492. (2006) NIRT: Nanostructured Functionally Graded Biomaterials Yogesh Vohra, University of Alabama at Birmingham, DMR-0402891 SEM images of osseointegration following 3 week culture of human mesenchymal stem cells on an electrospun fibrous scaffold. Macro and microscopic view of biodegradable composite scaffold produced by electrospinning.

2. NIRT: Nanostructured Functionally Graded Biomaterials Yogesh Vohra, University of Alabama at Birmingham, DMR-0402891 Cell adhesion and survivability is improved by incorporation of a small amount of hydroxyapatite or collagen I into fibrous scaffolds containing the biodegradable polymer, polycaprolactone. Two formulations were most promising and were chosen for further development: a biphasic scaffold composed of PCL and hydroxyapatite and a triphasic scaffold composed of PCL, hydroxyapatite, and collagen I. These scaffolds were both shown to be effective in promoting attachment and long term survival of human mesenchymal stem cells, and studies are now underway to evaluate osseointegration on these composites.

3. Broader Impacts: The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) in partnership with McWane Science Center in Birmingham offer interdisciplinary materials research experiences to graduate students and encourage local high school students to pursue careers in in physics, chemistry, applied mathematics, and engineering. NIRT supported biomedical engineering graduate student Will Clem (on the right) and educator Ashley Hall (on the left) studied fluid flow through electrospun biomaterials as part of NASA’s reduced gravity flight program in August 2006. NIRT: Nanostructured Functionally Graded Biomaterials Yogesh Vohra, University of Alabama at Birmingham, DMR-0402891

4. Will Clem is a biomedical engineering student supported by the NIRT program and is developing novel biomaterials by electrospinning. Ashley Hall is a local educator at McWane Science Center who will develop an exhibit based on this experience that should generate interest in science for the thousands of local students who visit the museum.