The defining characteristic of neurodegenerative diseases, such as spinal cord injury, is the inability of injured nerve cells to repair themselves or regrow. The consequences of spinal cord injury are devastating, resulting in dramatically reduced communication between the brain and the periphery. Specifically, we are investigating different methods of enhancing and guiding nerve regeneration and incorporating these methods into devices for in vivo investigations. The methodology allows us to create HFMs with the mechanical and transport properties required for implantation into either the peripheral or central nervous systems. To enhance regeneration within the HFMs, we are investigating haptotactic and chemotactic cues of regeneration.
Chemotactic cues involve guiding axons with concentration gradients of neurotrophic factors .
We are designing and synthesizing both biostable and biodegradable polymers. The latter are polycarbonates and are being investigated for drug delivery, scaffold synthesis and peptide modification. Novel fluoropolymers are being synthesized, incorporating a pendant hydroxyl group for further modification and an ether group for enhanced solubility in organic solvents. This synthetic approach dramatically improves the solubility and workability of fluoropolymers which are currently difficult to handle. The composition, mechanical and structural properties of the fluoropolymers are being investigated for use in coatings applications.