IMSE Seminar with Akhilesh K. Gaharwar on Engineered Biomaterials for In situ Tissue Regeneration
Engineered biomaterials have emerged as powerful tools for a range of biomedical applications, including tissue engineering, drug delivery, and additive manufacturing (3D bioprinting). These biomaterials possess tunable biophysical properties, specific biochemical cues, and complex architecture, enabling precise control over cellular behavior. In this talk, I will outline three biomaterials-based approaches developed in our lab for biomedical applications. Firstly, I will highlight how engineered biomaterials can harness the body's regenerative potential to control and direct cell functions for in situ tissue regeneration. Our work has resulted in a new class of biomaterials for bone regeneration, osteoarthritis treatment, angiogenesis, hemostasis, and wound healing. The second approach focuses on designing nanoengineered biomaterials for sustained and controlled release of therapeutics. We have developed a range of nano-tool kits for the delivery of small molecules drugs and large proteins, which have high loading efficacy and tunable delivery properties. These approaches can be used for targeted delivery of cancer therapeutics. Lastly, I will demonstrate the design of a new class of bioinks for 3D printing anatomical-size tissue constructs. These tissue structures can be used to develop physiologically relevant tissue models, mimicking disease conditions such as vascular pathophysiology and vascularized glioblastoma models.
Dr. Akhilesh K. Gaharwar is the Presidential Impact Fellow and Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Texas A&M University. The goal of his lab is to design new biomaterials for regenerative medicine and cancer research. In particular, his lab is leveraging principles from materials science, cell biology, additive biomanufacturing, and high throughput genomics to design smart and responsive biomaterials, with wide-ranging applications in the field of bioengineering. His research program is supported by the NIH, NSF, and DoD. Dr. Gaharwar has co-authored 140 journal articles, and has an H-index of 66. His research accomplishments are recognized by numerous national and international awards, including the NIH New Innovator Award (DP2), Biomaterials Young Investigator Award, Dean of Engineering Excellence Award, CMBE Rising Star Award, and CMBE Young Innovator Award. He is an elected fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE) and senior member of National Academy of Inventor (NAI). He currently serves as an Associate Editor of ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces.
Faculty, students, and the general public are invited.