Texas Tech University

Healthcare Engineering

Tissue Engineering for Artificial Skin and Bone

Hybrid nanoscale scaffold of PLGA [poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)] is fabricated through electrospinning (see figure below).

Tissue Engineering for Artificial Skin and Bone

PLGA is a synthetic biodegradable polymer that can be processed into desirable shape, mechanical properties, and degradation rate. A magnified view of electrospun PLGA scaffold is shown below.

Synthetic Biodegradable Polymer

PLGA scaffold is coated with collagen that provides cell-recognition signals and hydrophobic properties to facilitate cell growth.

PLGA Scaffold

An in vitro cell culture study is then conducted using the PLGA scaffold coated with collagen, followed by animal and human studies.

Department of Mechanical Engineering