Award
National Institute of General Medical Sciences 5R00GM151459-04
Dynamic Nanofibrous Hydrogels for Enhancing Stem Cells' Therapeutic Potency
Recipient
University of Miami Coral Gables
Award Amount
$248,999.00
Ceiling
$248,999.00
Awarded
June 11, 2026
Identifier
5R00GM151459-04
The award supports research to develop dynamic nanofibrous hydrogels to enhance the therapeutic potency of human mesenchymal stem cells by improving their expansion and immunomodulatory properties through novel biomaterial substrates.
Description
This project aims to develop a dynamic nanofibrous hydrogel system using a hyaluronic acid hydrogel network crosslinked via dynamic covalent hydrazone bonds. The system will encapsulate electrospun collagen nanofibers at various densities, fiber diameters, and lengths, with stress relaxation timescales characterized to promote hMSC viability and proliferation. The project will assess the effect of hydrogel parameters on cellular secretory activity, immunomodulatory properties, and differentiation capacity. Mechanistic studies will explore cell adhesive proteins and activation of transcription factors or sensors of mechanical cues. The research will provide insights into producing high-quality hMSCs with therapeutic potential, enabling new reproducible culture substrates.