Tailor-made functionalized biomaterials for cell culture applications (bone tissue generation)

• Applicant: Professorin Dr. Cornelia Kasper
• Subject Area: Biological and Biomimetic Chemistry
• Term: from 2006 to 2009
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 23343299

The project aims at the development of functionalized ceramic mineral biomatrices for the cultivation of bone tissue. The functionalization shall be achieved by covering the matrix surface with water soluble biocompatible but non-degradable polymers conjugated to bioactive ligands e.g. growth factors like BMP-2 and cell adhesion promoting RGD-containing peptides. The specific ligands shall influence cell culture experiments by: enhancing cell attachment, improving cell growth and contribution to maintain differentiation. These modified composite materials will be tested in static cell culture using a precursor model cell line (MC3T3-E1) with regard to cytotoxicity. Therefore cell proliferation and viability will be studied. Also bone specific markers shall be determined and mineralization status will be investigated. The differentiation status will be studied by PCR and DNA-microarrays. The best candidates from these screening experiments will be inserted to a special bioreactor for a dynamic and enlongated cultivation of a model cell line and osteoblasts.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Russia
• Participating Person: Professorin Dr. Tatiana Tennikova