Xiuzhi Susan Sun
Kansas State University, USA
Title: Advanced biomaterial PepGel - a new tool for translational research in cell therapy
Biography
Biography: Xiuzhi Susan Sun
Abstract
Life science and biomedical advancement have been limited by the traditional 2D cell culture system. Industries and scientists are switching to 3D cell culture system with the hope of more accurately mimicking the native extracellular microenvironment for translational research leading to clinical applications. Advanced self-assembly peptide hydrogel (PepGel) technology has been recently developed in the Biomaterials and Technology Lab at Kansas State University. The peptide structure was inspired by human muscle and spider silk backbone structure that can form hydrogels at physiological conditions. The peptide can self-assemble into nanofiber networks with 5-150 nm in diameter and 50-2000 nm in pore size that are similar geometry to extracellular matrix (ECM). The hydrogel has sheer-thinning and self-healing properties. This new PepGel system has large flexibility in controlling the gel stiffness, viscoelastic behavior, and surface properties. ECM ligands can be rationally built in the backbone of the PepGel to improve cell properties as needed. PepGel is injectable and biocompatible to biological system as well as compatible with many ECM proteins and cell growth factors. Because of this, the PepGel may have multi applications in the advancement of cell therapeutics strategies for various difficult diseases. This seminar will present PepGel technology, cell studies in vitro and cell delivery in vivo, and case studies with stem cells , cancer cells, virus/antigen, and 3D cell based model for drug toxicity testing.