Systems biology, tissue engineering and drug delivery

Research Interests:
The specific aims are the determine to optimal concentration of skeletal myoblasts with which to seed Collagen Matrices (using various concentrations of cell and matrix concentrations) so as to obtain maximal growth of myoblasts with the lowest percentage of fibroblasts possible as determined by desmin staining. The Second Specific Aim is to determine the optimal concentration of collagen matrix to add to the skeletal myoblast concentration determined above so that it will remain viable for up to 96 hours at four degrees Centigrade in Bioheart's proprietary injection media. The third specific aim is to determine the viability of the cells embedded in the collagen matrix, utilizing the results obtained from the above two experiments to determine the dilution of the final product in injection media that results in the least trauma to the cells when injected through Bioheart's MyoCath or other catheters if deemed necessary. The final specific aim is to do ex vivo experiments in flow stimulation models simulating the injection of the MyoCell laden Collagen Matrix into the interior of a substance simulating heart tissue that has flow of a fluid similar in viscosity to blood to determine if retention is improved over the 10-15% commonly seen in many preclinical animal experiments performed by Bioheart and others (unpublished data).

Selected Publications:

Brown, M., J. Amin, P. Schiller, R. Voellmy and W.S. Scott.
Determinants for the DNase-1-hypersensitive Chromatin Structure 5' to a Human HSP 70 gene. J Mol. Biol. 203:107-117. 1988.

M.J. McLaren, W. An and M.E. Brown. Analysis of Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor in Rats with Inherited Retinal Degeneration. FEBS Lett. 1996. May 27;387 (1):63-70.

A. Unal, E. Lorenzo, M.E. Brown, L. Smith, S. Matsuura, G. Scott and W. Scott. Reverse Transcriptase Mutations in HIV-1- Infected Children Treated with Zidovudine. Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes and Human Retrovirology, 13:140-145.

M.J. McLaren, T. Sosabe, C.Y. Li, M.E. Brown and G. Inana. Spontaneously Arising Immortal Cell Line of Rat Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells. Experimental Cell Research. 204; 311-320. 1993.

P. Schiller, J. Amin, J Ananthan, M. Brown, W. Scott and R. Voellmy. Cis-acting Elements Involved i the Regulated Expression of a Human HSP 70 Gene. J Mol. Biol. 203:97-105. 1988.