AGRIPOLY: Activation of biocompatible polysaccharides for making biomimetic surface coatings with recombinant growth factors for regeneration of ligaments

The research project shall study the effect of different cross-linking degree of semisynthetic polysaccharides during multilayer formation on mechanical properties and controlled release of growth factors regarding their effect on differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells towards fibrocartilage and bone. The following specific objectives shall be addressed: Synthesis of libraries of polysaccharides with different degree of functionalization (5, 10, 30%) of reactive thiols and vinylgroups for photochemical or terminal amine groups for enzymatic cross-linking (a); Formation of multilayers from functionalized libraries of polysaccharides with different cross-linking degree that changes the mechanical properties of substrata and release of growth factors (b). Recombinant expression of growth factors GDF-5 and BMP-2 with introduction of additional linkers for covalent immobilization in multilayers ©.Generation of gradients of cross-linking but also growth factors presentation by a microfluidic device (d). Study of effect of mechanical and growth factor gradients on cell differentiation with mesenchymal stem cells (e).