Photoreversible hydrogels to study stem cell memory and fate. This project will develop materials whose stiffness can be reversibly increased and decreased by the simple application of light, and use these to build knowledge of how stem cell fate is regulated. The influence of mechanical cues on the structure and organisation of the nucleus will be determined. Expected outcomes are new synthetic and light-reversible culture materials, and fundamental insights into how forces change the nucleus t ....Photoreversible hydrogels to study stem cell memory and fate. This project will develop materials whose stiffness can be reversibly increased and decreased by the simple application of light, and use these to build knowledge of how stem cell fate is regulated. The influence of mechanical cues on the structure and organisation of the nucleus will be determined. Expected outcomes are new synthetic and light-reversible culture materials, and fundamental insights into how forces change the nucleus to alter stem cell aging and fate. The findings will provide critical information required for the future development of assays to measure cell potency and instructive biomaterials to drive stem cell expansion and tissue-regeneration and will have impact by underpinning future advances in stem cell technologies.Read moreRead less
An anti-senescence nanoplatform and its underlying mechanism. The project will bring together complementary expertise and skills by combining biomaterials, cell and molecular biology, and engineering, to develop a novel nano-biomaterial platform for anti-senescence and gain an in-depth understanding of its underlying mechanisms. The underlying mechanisms of senescence remain elusive and bone substitutes with anti-senescence property have not been explored and becoming a growing field of interest ....An anti-senescence nanoplatform and its underlying mechanism. The project will bring together complementary expertise and skills by combining biomaterials, cell and molecular biology, and engineering, to develop a novel nano-biomaterial platform for anti-senescence and gain an in-depth understanding of its underlying mechanisms. The underlying mechanisms of senescence remain elusive and bone substitutes with anti-senescence property have not been explored and becoming a growing field of interest in bone regeneration. The project will develop a well-defined and efficient nanomaterial platform with optimal combination of nano-surface features and chemistry for cell rejuvenation, and it will give unprecedented depth of interdisciplinary understanding of senescence rejuvenation mechanisms.Read moreRead less