Hydrogel Scaffolds for Gene Delivery and Stem Cell Transplantation
Tatiana Segura, Ph.D.
UCLA
Abstract
My laboratory investigates the design and synthesis of materials for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. In particular, we design hydrogel scaffolds that contain bioactive signals that can induce residing stem cells to infiltrate the scaffold after transplantation or that contain bioactive signals that promote the survival of transplanted stem cells. The long-term goal of my research is to design and engineer hydrogel based biomaterials that contain biological signals that (i) can enhance the wound healing rate of hard to treat wounds (e.g. ischemic wounds), (ii) can be used to transplant stem cells to diseased sites, and (iii) can be used to study stem cell differentiation and angiogenesis in vitro. In this talk, I will focus on our efforts to introduce DNA bioactive signals into hydrogel scaffolds and the use of injectable hydrogels for stem cell transplantation into the brain.
Biosketch
Professor Tatiana Segura received her Bachelors of Science degree from the University of California Berkeley and her doctorate from Northwestern University. She pursued post-doctoral training at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Lausanne. Professor Segura's Laboratory studies hydrogel materials for stem cell culture and drug/gene delivery. On this topic she has published over 20 peered reviewed publications. She has been recognized with the Outstanding Young Investigator Award from the American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy, the American Heart Association National Scientist Development Grant, and the CAREER award from National Science Foundation.