Overview
My current research is in the design, synthesis, and characterization of polymeric biomaterials for bone tissue engineering. Although autologous bone graft (vital tissue transplanted from one site in the patient to another) has the best capacity to stimulate the healing of tissue defects, explanation both introduces additional surgery pain and also risks donor-site morbidity. One promising alternative to autograft is synthetic biomaterials that are designed to enhance healing through the natural tissue remodeling process. Polyurethanes comprise a class of synthetic polymers that are of fundamental interest to us because their mechanical and biological properties can be tuned to targeted values by controlling the structure. New materials having targeted biological and mechanical properties are being developed for three orthopedic clinical indications:
- Injectable polyurethane scaffolds for drug and gene delivery.
- Polyurethane scaffolds for ex vivo bone and ligament tissue engineering.
- Biodegradable
bone/polyurethane composite fracture fixation devices.
Selected Publications
ROS-Degradable Polythioketal Urethane Foam Dressings to Promote Porcine Skin Wound Repair. Patil P, Russo KA, McCune JT, Pollins AC, Cottam MA, Dollinger BR, DeJulius CR, Gupta MK, D'Arcy R, Colazo JM, Yu F, Bezold MG, Martin JR, Cardwell NL, Davidson JM, Thompson CM, Barbul A, Hasty AM, Guelcher SA, Duvall CL, Science Translational Medicine, 14, eabm6586, (2022) View Abstract
Diflunisal-loaded poly(propylene sulfide) nanoparticles decrease S. aureus-mediated bone destruction during osteomyelitis. Ford CA, Spoonmore TJ, Gupta MK, Duvall CL, Guelcher SA, Cassat JE, Journal of Orthopedic Research, 39, 426-437, (2021) View Abstract
Effects of nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite concentration and skeletal site on bone and cartilage formation in rats. Boller LA, Shiels SM, Florian DC, Peck SH, Schoenecker JG, Duvall CL, Wenke JC, Guelcher SA, Acta Biomaterialia, 130, 485-496, (2021) View Abstract
Rapid prototyping of cell culture microdevices using parylene-coated 3D prints. O'Grady BJ, Geuy MD, Kim H, Balotin KM, Allchin ER, Florian DC, Bute NN, Scott TE, Lowen GB, Fricker CM, Fitzgerald ML, Guelcher SA, Wikswo JP, Bellan LM, Lippmann ES, Lap on a Chip, 21, 4814-4822, (2021) View Abstract
Principles of computer-controlled linear motion applied to an open-source affordable liquid handler for automated micropipetting. Florian DC, Odziomek M, Ock CL, Chen HN, Guelcher SA, Scientific Reports, 10, 13663, (2020) View Abstract
Education
Ph.D., Chemical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon, 1999M.S., Chemical Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, 1996
B.S., Chemical Engineering, Virginia Tech, 1992