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May 20-21, 2019 | Vienna, Austria
Biomaterials and Nanomaterials &
Materials Physics and Materials Science
2
nd
International Conference on
Page 17
Journal of Materials Science and Nanotechnology | Volume 3
M
aturemastcellsresideinconnectivetissuesthatlargely
interface with the external environment, making
them crucial sentinel cells that help to direct and control
the innate immune response. The rapid degranulation and
long-term expression of various proteins that occurs upon
mast cell activation provides both a quick and long-term
response mechanism. These released mediators are central
to protective actions such as wound healing, angiogenesis,
and host defense against pathogens and animal venoms.
Thus, mast cells are ideal targets for novel immunotherapies.
Engineering biomaterials to manipulate the immune
response to elicit specific therapeutic outcomes is a
burgeoning field of research. In particular, the development
of self-assembled peptide systems for directing the action
of mast cells within a local tissue environment will be
presented, with a special focus upon skin tissue applications.
The effect of Nano scaffolds composed of self-assembled
peptides was explored using several mast cell types. Initial
work focused upon understanding the influence of Nano
scaffold structure and chemistry on bone marrow-derived
murine mast cell (BMMC) activity: adhesion, degranulation
and cytokine release. Results show that BMMCs adhere to
the matrix without previous sensitization and can be found
within the matrix itself, without exhibiting any signs of
activation. Thiswork is considered the first step inquantifying
mast cell activity in artificial matrices composed of self-
assembling peptides and led to further work looking at IgE
independent activation of human mast cells through Mas-
related G-protein coupled receptor member X2 (MRGPRX2)
receptor. Herein, it was observed that the engineered Nano
scaffold matrix could be designed to locally activate tissue-
resident mast cells within human tissue samples. This Nano
scaffold may provide a new platform to modulate localized
mast cell functions thereby facilitating their protective role
in the skin.
Speaker Biography
Larry D Unsworth, is a professor in chemical engineering at the
University of Alberta. In 2005, he was awarded the international
research associate award by NRC-Canada and joined the Massachusetts
Institute for Technology USA to work in the area of self-assembled
peptides and diffusion in complex media. His PhD was based on the
area of engineered surfaces for bio-fouling applications. He has 2
patents and 60+ papers, with a total citation record of 2300: three
papers cited 250+ times and another six cited 100+ times, with an h
index of 18. His research focus is on development of bio responsive and
bioactive, self-assembled peptide constructs.
e:
larry.unsworth@ualberta.caLarry D Unsworth
University of Alberta, Canada
Nano-scaffold development for targeting mast cells in human tissue
Notes: