Nicki Bergmann
Graduate Student
The University of Texas at Austin
1 University Station, MC C0400
Chemical Engineering Dept.
Austin, TX 78712 nbergmann@mail.utexas.edu
Research Summary
Each month in the United
States, hundreds of people die while awaiting organ
transplants and each year, thousands are added to
waiting lists for these life-saving operations.
Tissue engineering is widely considered the “Holy
Grail” of the medical industry. My research
focuses on using the idea of molecular imprinting
on polymer based systems to enhance cellular growth
for tissue regeneration. Specifically, we are focused
on imprinting tissue specific growth factors into
the surface and bulk of polymer matrices that will
in turn bind these same endogenous growth factors
when placed in the bloodstream of the host. By incorporating
degradable polymers that undergo surface, we hope
to also allow for protein recognition in the bulk
of the matrix and allow for native ECM secretion
by host cells leading to eventual tissue replacement.
In addition, we are also interested in applying
this technology to sensor applications for the early
detection of human disease.
