Pushing the envelope in tissue engineering: Ex vivo production of thick vascularized cardiac extracellular matrix constructs

Functional vascularization is a prerequisite for cardiac tissue engineering of constructs with physiological thicknesses. We previously reported the successful preservation of main vascular conduits in isolated thick acellular porcine cardiac ventricular ECM (pcECM). We now unveil this scaffold's potential in supporting human cardiomyocytes and promoting new blood vessel development ex vivo, providing long-term cell support in the construct bulk. A custom-designed perfusion bioreactor was developed to remodel such vascularization ex vivo, demonstrating, for the first time, functional angiogenesis in vitro with various stages of vessel maturation supporting up to 1.7 mm thick constructs. A robust methodology was developed to assess the pcECM maximal cell capacity, which resembled the human heart cell density. Taken together these results demonstrate feasibility of producing physiological-like constructs such as the thick pcECM suggested here as a prospective treatment for end-stage heart failure. Methodologies reported herein may also benefit other tissues, offering a valuable in vitro setting for "thick-tissue" engineering strategies toward large animal in vivo studies.Israeli Science Foundation/1563/10Singapore National Research Foundatio

Application of microwave curing for rapid prototyping

The objecitve of the project was to characterize the optimal curing of an epoxy system for microwave curing, design and develop of a fixture together with the hardware and software required for the microwave curing using a layer by layer process and development of models for predicting the cure and profiles of the layers.RG 57/9

Novel processing techniques using ICP/Hollow microspheres for high performance ceramics

The project title Novel Processing Techniques Using an Integral Composite Particle and Hollow Microspheres for High Performance Ceramics was approved by the Ministry of Education APvC in December 1999 with a total funding of $546,334 and commenced in Jan 2000. The project was completed in Jan 2003, with the results compiled in this report. All the objectives set out in the approved proposal, namely the development and process optimisation for producing high thermal conductivity synthetic ICP Aluminum Nitride material, A1N ceramics hollow microspheres and controlled porosity low k dielectric Aluminum Nitride substrates, have been achieved

Accelerated radiation curing of polymers and composites

This report encompasses the research work done on the Applied Research Project 14/96, titled : Accelerated Radiation Curing of Polymers / Composite for Microelectronics / Aerospace Applications." It encompasses the study of the curing of thermosetting polymers as used in the microelectroncis industries and aerospace industries. The radiation process considered for this project include both the electron beam curing process and the microwave curing process. Basic to both processes is the underlying cure kinetics of the polymer system. This include the study of the gelation process, the conversion and attainment of higher glass transition temperatures, and the modeling of the mechanism for cure kinetics

High performance MMC and thermoforming / pultrusion forming of thermoplastic composites

Development of high performance A1-Li alloy compositesRP 44/9

Nanomaterials : synthesis, processing and characterization

In this project, three classes of polymer nanocomposites were developed and their processing-structure-property relationships were systematically studied. Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA)/expanded graphite (EG) and PMMA/untreated graphite (UG) composites were prepared by direct solution blending of PMMA with EG and UG fillers. A four-point resistivity probe system was used to measure the electrical conductivity of the composites. With the increase of filler content, the electrical conductivity of the composites showed the transition from an insulator to a semiconductor.RGM 47/0

Development of a fibre composite process for producing prototype engineering components

180 p.Fibre reinforced composite (FRC) materials have proved themselves to be one of the few non conventional engineering materials critical to the advance in technology today. It has become necessary for tertiary institutions like NTI to include both the research and training on the design, analysis and process of these materials in their curriculum.RP 25/98

Development of Al-Li alloy and thermoplastic composite materials

263 p.This report encompasses the research work done on the Applied Research Project 40/89. The project commenced in September 1989, and was subsequently extended with additional grants in June 1990, Jul 1991 and finally in June 1992. It has involved a total of 17 international and local research collaborators, 24 final year projects over 4 years, 3 M. Eng. and 3 Ph.D. postgraduate students. A total of 36 international refereed journals and 40 international conference papers have resulted from the project.RP40/8

Controlled growth of single-walled carbon nanotubes on patterned substrates

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) have attracted great interest in the last two decades because of their unique electrical, optical, thermal, mechanical properties, etc. One major research field of SWCNTs is the controlled growth of them from the patterned catalysts on substrates, since the integration of SWCNTs into nanoelectronics and other devices requires well-organized SWCNT arrays. This tutorial review describes the commonly used lithographic techniques to pattern catalysts used for controlled growth of SWCNTs, specifically confined to horizontal direction. Advantages and disadvantages of each method will be briefly discussed. Applications of the SWCNT arrays grown from the catalyst patterns will also be introduced.Accepted versio

Nanotechnology with soft matter : from structures to functions

No abstract is available for this article