| Start Date: | 1/26/2023 | Start Time: | 1:00 PM |
| End Date: | 1/26/2023 | End Time: | 3:00 PM |
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Event Description
BIOMED PhD Research Proposal
Title:
Molecular Insights of Developing Primitive Matrix in Articular Cartilage and Meniscus
Speaker:
Bryan Kwok, PhD Candidate
School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems
Drexel University
Advisor:
Lin Han, PhD
Associate Professor
School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems
Drexel University
Details:
Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a whole joint disease characterized by the degeneration of multiple tissues, including articular cartilage and meniscus. Current regenerative strategies are insufficient and do not restore the native structure or function of these tissues. To address these limitations, it is crucial to understand how native extracellular matrix (ECM) of cartilage and meniscus are established in vivo.
Articular cartilage and meniscus are two load-bearing tissues that interact directly with one another and are essential for knee joint function. Both tissues share a common cellular origin, arising from Gdf5 (growth differentiation factor 5)-expressing progenitors in the interzone, a region of flattened, condensed mesenchymal cells at the prospective joint site in early development, and in sites flanking the interzone. Despite this common origin, the ECMs of these two tissues have distinct composition, structure and biomechanical properties in the adult. However, the incomplete understanding of initial formation of cartilage and meniscus ECMs limits success in engineering approaches that aim to restore these tissues to their native state. To address this limitation, using the murine model at well-defined developmental stages, we aim to elucidate new molecular insights in developing cartilage and meniscus ECMs at embryonic and neo-natal stages.
Additionally, we are also interested in collagen network formation due to its abundance in cartilage and meniscus ECMs. Collagen type V is a nucleator for initiating the assembly of collagen type I fibrils, but our results suggest that collagen V may play an essential role in the formation of cartilage ECM, even though cartilage is predominantly comprised of collagen type II. Thus, studying the role of collagen V along with the previous studies of formation of cartilage and meniscus ECM during murine development could uncover new mechanisms of ECM formation that can help advance regeneration strategies. |
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Audience:
Undergraduate StudentsGraduate StudentsFacultyStaff |
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