Rice University
Department of Bioengineering - MS142
P.O. Box 1892
Houston, Texas 77251-1892
tel: 713-348-4204, fax: 713-348-4244
For Courier Delivery:
Rice University
Department of Bioengineering - MS142
6100 Main Street
Houston, Texas 77005-1892
Welcome to the homepage
of the Mikos Research Group at Rice University!
Our laboratory
specializes in biomaterials, drug delivery, gene therapy, and
tissue engineering. It emphasizes the use of synthetic biodegradable
polymers
as:
supportive
scaffolds for cells
conduits
for guided tissue growth
specific
substrates for targeted cell adhesion
stimulants
for a desired cellular response
carriers
for controlled drug delivery
non-viral
vectors for gene therapy
Our current
projects include:
investigating
bone regeneration and repair using a biodegradable polymer scaffold,
either by inducing post-implantation bone tissue growth or by seeding
the scaffold with bone cells prior to implantation
developing
new rapid prototyping processing methods for manufacturing
three-dimensional biodegradable polymer scaffolds of anatomical shapes
with precise architecture
fabricating
injectable, in situ polymerizable, biodegradable composite
scaffolds as carriers for bone and cartilage cells to improve the
quality of tissue formed in localized areas after injury
developing
new flow perfusion bioreactors and examining the effects of mechanical
forces and flow on three-dimensional cultures of bone cells and the
production of extracellular matrix
synthesizing
new biomimetic materials that exhibit the mechanical responsiveness and
biochemical processing capabilities of living cells and tissues
investigating
the controlled release of growth factors from polymeric
scaffolds to induce regeneration cascades in bone and cartilage
fabricating
novel nanocomposites using nanoparticles and single-walled
carbon nanotubes as reinforcing agents to improve mechanical properties
of scaffolds for bone tissue engineering
We hope this site will
inform and enlighten, and not only give you a better idea
of what we do but who we are. Questions, comments, and suggestions
regarding
either the group or the site are welcome, and can be directed to any of
the
personnel listed in the personnel.
