SCIENCE AT THE EDGE SEMINAR Professor Christine E. Schmidt Department of Biomedical Engineering The University of Texas at Austin Tissue Engineering Strategies for Nerve Regeneration Friday, November 16 Room 1208 Engineering Bldg, Begins at 11:30 a.m. Refreshments served at 11:15 a.m. (If you would like to meet with Professor Schmidt, there are three available openings for appointments 2:00-2:30, 2:30-3:00, 3:00-3:30. If you are interested in meeting with her at one of the above times, please reply to Vanessa Mitchner at 355-5066 or mitchvlr@egr.msu.edu.) ABSTRACT Damage to spinal cord and peripheral nerve tissue can have a devastating impact on the quality of life for individuals suffering from nerve injuries. Many attempts are being made to engineer therapies that can either stimulate the regeneration of damaged nerve or that can replace nerve function. Our research entails parallel approaches to: (1) design biomaterials-based nerve guides that can be used to stimulate and enhance the regeneration of peripheral nerve tissue, and ultimately spinal cord tissue, and (2) interface electronic materials with neurons in an effort to design improved bioprosthetic devices that can replace lost function as a result of nerve injury. New tissue engineering technologies to aid nerve regeneration will ultimately require that biomaterials be designed both to physically support tissue growth as well as to elicit desired receptor-specific responses from particular cell types. One way of achieving such interactive biomaterials is with the incorporation of biological molecules into synthetic matrices or the use of natural-based biomaterials that interact favorable with the body. Further specificity may be gained by choosing a material with inherent properties that enhance desired cellular responses – for example, an electroactive material (e.g., polypyrrole) that can stimulate electrically responsive cell types such as nerve. Ultimately, nerve guidance channels could be used to aid the repair of damaged peripheral nerves, such as would be required for facial and hand reconstruction, and ultimately, could be used to aid the regeneration of damaged spinal cord. In parallel, electronic interfaces that allow for neurons to communicate with prosthetic devices, which can replace or mimic function, may prove equally valuable for aiding individuals with serious nerve injuries. Some bioprosthetic devices are in existence (e.g., the cochlear implant), but unfortunately exhibit weak, non-specific cell-electrode interactions and high impedance at the electrode site. To address these issues, we are developing electronic materials that can make close, directed functional interfaces with cells at the nanometer scale. Specifically, we are using biorecognition molecules to interface semiconductor quantum dots with living neurons. The quantum dots can be optically activated, producing electrical charges capable of influencing cell behavior.