Engineering 3D Tissue Test Systems

This book provides an introduction to, and unique coverage of, a rapidly evolving area in biomaterials engineering. It provides insight into the importance of 3D systems and their use as benchtop models, spanning applications from basic scientific research to clinical diagnostics. Methods and limitations of building 3D tissue structures are evaluated, with attention given to the cellular, polymeric, and fabrication instrumentation components. The book covers the important aspects of polymeric tissue test systems, highlighting the needs and constraints of the industry.

Karen J. L. Burg earned a B.S. in chemical engineering with a minor in biochemical engineering from North Carolina State University, an M.S. in bioengineering from Clemson University, and a Ph.D. in bioengineering with a minor in experimental statistics from Clemson University. She completed a tissue engineering postdoctoral research fellowship at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, later serving as Clemson University Interim Vice Provost for Research & Innovation, Clemson University Interim Vice Provost and Dean of the Graduate School, and Kansas State University Vice President for Research. She is currently Harbor Lights Endowed Chair of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery at the University of Georgia and Hunter Endowed Chair Emerita at Clemson University. Karen is a past President of the Society For Biomaterials and past member of the Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society North American Council. She currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors for the National Academy of Inventors as well as a member of the College of Fellows Executive Board for the American Council on Education. Honors to Dr. Burg include the 2001 National Science Foundation Faculty Early Career Award, 2001 Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers; she is an American Council on Education Fellow, a Fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering, a Fellow of the Biomedical Engineering Society, a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors, and a Fellow of the International Union of Societies for Biomaterials Science and Engineering. Among her research interests are the optimization of absorbable biomaterials processing for regenerative engineering applications and the development of 3D tissue engineered benchtop systems for diagnostic and discovery applications.

Didier Dreau earned a B.S. in physiology and cell biology from Rennes I University (Rennes, France), an M.S. in Molecular and Cell Biology from Blaise Pascal University (Clermont-Ferrand, France) and a Ph.D. in Biochemistry, Molecular and Cell Biology with emphasis on Immunology from the Ecole Nationale Superieure Agronomique (ENSA) de Rennes (France). Following his post-doctoral training in immunology and immunotherapy and serving as Research Scientist at Carolinas Medical Center, Dr. Dreau currently is an Associate Professor of Biology at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Dr. Dreau also serves as the Honors in Biological Sciences Program Director in the Department of Biological Sciences, and the Area Leader for the Applied Cancer Technology and Therapeutics in the Center for Biomedical Engineering and Science at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. In addition to his teaching of cancer biology and physiology, Dr. Dreau, a member of the American Association for Cancer Research, serves on multiple granting agency review panels along with scientific journal editorial boards. The focus of the research developed in his laboratory is on angiogenesis, immune responses and the physical and chemical tumor microenvironment in the promotion of metastasis. Those research efforts include dedicated interests in the development of new approaches to prevention, early detection, monitoring and treatment of cancers.

Timothy Burg earned a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Cincinnati and an M.S. and Ph.D. in electrical engineering from Clemson University. He is currently Professor of Veterinary Biosciences & Diagnostic Imaging in the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine and Director of the University of Georgia Office of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Education. Dr. Burg has extensive experience in industrial applications of robotics and nonlinear control design tools and the academic investigation of the basis and future directions of these techniques. An intelligent system can be defined as the integration of hardware and software to create a new system that exceeds the capabilities of the hardware alone, for example adding computer control to an electric motor. Current projects that capitalize on the promise of the intelligent systems approach include biofabrication, haptic trainers for laparoscopic surgery training, force control algorithms for robots, and control of unmanned aerial vehicles. The ongoing tissue engineering project centers on the application of controls and robotics tools to fabricate systems of living tissues. Dr. Burg is working with students and other collaborators to build a unique biofabrication system that assembles tissues in an assembly line fashion. One component of this system, a bio-printer that uses ink-jet printing to place living cells, was developed during an US National Science Foundation grant. Dr. Burg strives to connect the exciting research at the university level with K-12 students.