| Affiliations: | College of Engineering and Computer Science |
| Team Leader: |
|
| Faculty Mentor: |
Kausik Mukhopadhyay, PhD
|
|
Team Size:
|
3 |
| Open Spots: | 1 |
|
Team Member Qualifications:
|
Preferred qualifications are knowledge in engineering, sciences, and biology. Required qualifications are basic laboratory practices. |
|
Description:
|
Hydrogels are soft, water-rich materials often used to support tissue growth, but many are either too weak or too dense for cells to move through easily. In this project, we are developing a new GelMA/PVA hydrogel that combines permanent and reversible connections within the material to improve both strength and flexibility. By adding PVA, the hydrogel becomes more porous over time, allowing cells to migrate more easily and improving the movement of nutrients or drugs. This also makes the material stretchable, self-healing, and better able to withstand repeated deformation. Mechanical testing show that the hydrogel has properties similar to soft tissues and remains stable under normal physiological stresses. Ongoing studies are focused on understanding how these properties influence cell behavior and tissue integration. Overall, this work introduces a simple, adaptable hydrogel platform for building soft, durable scaffolds for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. |