Current Research Projects
Cryopreservation of Tissue Engineered Constructs
The promise of tissue engineering technology, including tissue-engineered medical products (TEMPs) used as substitutes for organ and tissue transplants, as well as cell- and tissue-based biosensors, is limited by the ephemeral nature of the biological cells that populate such devices. Because living cells degrade rapidly unless stored at cryogenic temperatures, the mass-production, distribution, and banking of tissue engineered constructs is not possible without effective cryopreservation technology.
Research in the Biothermal Sciences Laboratory aims to elucidate the mechanisms of cryoinjury during freezing (and thawing) of tissue engineered constructs, towards the goal of optimizing viability and function of cryopreserved tissues. A current focus of investigation is the interaction between cells and ice crystals, in particular the formation and growth of intracellular ice. We have pioneered several novel approaches to study these phenomena, including cell micropatterning techniques, high-speed video cryomicroscopy, and stochastic mathematical models.
Cryopreservation of Primate Oocytes
Successful cryopreservation of egg cells from primates would provide technology to facilitate biomedical research in early development, and also aid the conservation of endangered species. Towards this goal, the Biothermal Sciences Laboratory is collaborating with the Medical College of Georgia and the Yerkes National Primate Research Center on an NIH-funded project to develop cryopreservation techniques for the eggs of rhesus monkeys. Presently, we are developing mathematical models of molecular transport across the cell membrane, and using computer simulations to optimize procedures for adding and removing cryoprotectant chemicals.
Optimizing the Cryopreservation of Genetically Engineered Cells
Large-molecule biological drugs such as insulin and monoclonal antibodies, which are too complex to manufacture by conventional chemical synthesis, are produced commercially using genetically engineered cells. Because such cells must be cryogenically stored to ensure that a high-quality supply is available for drug production, the Biothermal Sciences Laboratory is investigating the potential for adverse effects caused by the cryopreservation process itself. We have established a research collaboration with the Department of Chemical Engineering at Villanova University to study the cryobiology of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) fibroblasts, the mammalian cell type most commonly used by the biotechnology industry.
