Dr. Alyssa Panitch, Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, is working on a new material that begins as a gel and then hardens to fill gaps in damaged or missing tissue—a temporary liquid bandage of sorts. As new, healthy tissue begins to grow, this material will disintegrate. It is anticipated that the material, still in the study stages, will release antibiotics or clotting materials. Because this new matrix can become any shape you want, it could be used for spinal cord injuries, broken bones, or split arteries.
Illustration: McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine.
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Navy Times (04/05/07)
Dr. Panitch and her collaborators recently presented the results of this research at the American Chemical Society’s Annual Meeting. Their work on polysaccharide-based hydrogels as biomaterials for tissue engineering was the focus of their talk.
Abstract (03/26/07)
In January 2006, Regenerative Medicine Today featured Dr. Panitch and her work. Listen to her podcast.
Listen to Podcast #2 (01/15/06)