Evaluation of a biopolymer matrix for cell based bone repair

DEEPALI JERE: Evaluation of a biopolymer matrix for cell based bone repair (Under the direction of Dr. Lyndon Cooper) Autogenous bone grafts are often associated with unpredictable success rates and donor site morbidity. There is clear medical need for cost-effective bone graft material that overcomes these shortcomings. Aim: To test a thermally stable, macro-porous collagen scaffold, DuraGen® for bone repair and study its ability to stimulate healing of critical size defects in rat calvaria engrafted with Mesenchymal Stem Cells(MSCs). served as stromal cell donors by means of femoral marrow lavage. Results: Bone repair at 28 days was measured using radiographs and histology. Histology showed mean bone fill of 9. Conclusion: This study clearly displays osteogenic properties of collagen scaffold implanted with MSCs. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I have been fortunate to work closely with many highly qualified and generous people who have contributed in many ways for the timely completion of my research project. who worked closely with me all along the way. They provided me with unlimited help and support and I am indebted to them. for their generosity in helping me with the rat surgeries. Mr. Wallace Ambrose and Ms. Cynthia Suggs for patiently trouble-shooting the problems I encountered while doing Micro CT scanning and Immunoflorescence microscopy. Ms. Sara Valencia for enabling the experiments to proceed smoothly. She has been an immense help due to her expertise in working with stem cells. iv Dr. Gustavo Mendonca for offering to work with me on the statistical analysis and being kind enough to guide me through it systematically. Dr. Juanli Guo for her support and input in getting the thesis formatted and ready for submission. promptly to our request and speeding up the preparation of histological slides. Graduate Prosthodontics residents for the network of support that they provided me in many small and big ways. AAFP Tylman grant program for sponsoring my research project. Last but not the least; I would like to thank my dear husband & parents who have always supported me in every way possible and for being there for me when I needed them the most.