Overview
Topic status: We're looking for students to study this topic.
The aim of this research is to develop new scaffold materials suitable as skin substitutes for regeneration following injury and as 3-D skin models. The approach will be to generate nano-fibrous composite scaffolds of natural (e.g. collagen) and synthetic (e.g.polypropylene) polymers using the electrospinning technique. This method uses a high voltage potential to extrude polymers into fine fibres. These fibres can closely mimic the natural fibrous matrix found in skin and promote cell migration and proliferation. The scaffolds will be seeded with fibroblasts and keratinocytes to generate scaffolds with the same stratification characteristics of the epidermal and dermal layers of natural skin.
This is a collaborative project between the Tissue Repair and Regeneration Program at IHBI and the Chemistry Discipline. Other projects are available for students with a chemistry background - please email me for more information.
Methods and techniques that will be developed in the course of this project:
The student will get exposure to a variety of techniques including: electrospinning, co-cell culture, histology, cell proliferation assays and fluorescent microscopy. Having an interest in engineering or mechanics will be an advantage for the electrospinning.
- Study level
- PhD, Honours
- Supervisors
- QUT
- Organisational unit
Science and Engineering Faculty
- Research area
- Contact
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Please contact the supervisor.
Dr Tim Dargaville
