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Heather M. PowellAssistant Professor of
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Immunohistochemistry of bioengineered skin showing cell nuclei (blue), collagen type IV (red) and human involucrin (green), a differentiation marker for the epidermis. |
Dr. Heather Powell, a new Assistant Professor of Materials Science and Engineering and Biomedical Engineering, conducts research on biomaterials for tissue regeneration. Prior to her arrival at Ohio State, Powell was a post doctoral research fellow at the Shriners Hospitals for Children where she performed research on human bioengineered skin. She received her doctorate in materials science and engineering in 2004 from The Ohio State University.
Dr. Powell's research interests include biomaterials, tissue engineering and biomechanics. Her research utilizes principles of materials science, polymer chemistry, cellular and molecular biology, and genetic engineering to generate materials/devices that can be utilized to replace, restore or improve the function of diseased or damaged tissues. In tissue engineering, cells are commonly combined with a scaffold of native or synthetic origin to guide cellular organization and differentiation while providing mechanical strength and integrity. The current generation of scaffolds does not possess all of the necessary properties to replicate the native tissue. Dr. Powell utilizes biomimetic and biomechanical strategies to generate scaffolds which can provide the optimal balance of mechanical properties and biological function.
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Human tissue engineered skin fabricated from A&B) lyophilized collagen sponge or C&D) electrospun collagen mesh. Masson trichrome staining of biopsies taken from engineered skin grafted to full-thickness wound in a mouse 6 weeks post grafting. Note the residual collagen sponge within the wound (arrows) while no electrospun collagen mesh can be observed. (m = mouse skin h = human skin)
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Lyophilized collagen scaffolds (A&B), electrospun gelatin scaffolds (C&D), and electrospun collagen scaffolds (E&F) |
