MSE Seminar: Xiaofei Li, Improving stem cell survival and differentiation in ischemic and inflammatory tissues

Abstract

Ischemic diseases, such as myocardial infarction, stroke, and critical limb ischemia, cause severe tissue damage and function loss. Stem cell therapy is considered as a promising therapeutic approach to regenerate the damaged tissues. However, the efficacy of stem cell therapy is extremely low due to the inferior cell survival and differentiation under the harsh ischemic and inflammatory environment. We have developed several thermosensitive hydrogel-based stem cell delivery systems to improve stem cell survival and differentiation under these conditions.

Dissertation Committee members:

Dr. Jianjun Guan, Advisor

Dr. John Lannutti

Dr. Heather Powell

Bio

Xiaofei Li is currently a graduate student of Dr. Jianjun Guan group since 2012. He graduated and got B.S. degree from Zhejiang University with a major of polymer science and engineering. In the group, he focused on using functional biomaterials and stem cells for tissue regeneration. In his work, several thermosensitive hydrogel based delivery systems were developed to address low cell retention and survival problem in ischemic and inflammatory tissues.