Stem Cell Engineering Center Seminar Series

William Murphy, PhD - University of Wisconsin-Madison

Bioinspired molecular sequestering in the stem cell microenvironment

Abstract:
The extracellular matrix (ECM) plays a critical role in stem cell behaviors ranging from cell adhesion to lineage-specific differentiation. However, the influence of the ECM on stem cell behavior is often difficult to study in traditional cell culture, as the extracellular environment in cell culture is often complex and poorly defined. This challenge is particularly relevant to molecular sequestering, a common mechanism by which the ECM locally regulates soluble growth factor concentrations. We have hypothesized that chemically well-defined cell culture environments can be used to study the influence of ECM-mimicking (or “bioinspired”) ligands on stem cell behavior. Bioinspired ligands have included growth factor sequestering ligands, proteoglycan sequestering ligands, and receptor-binding ligands. Our results demonstrate that bioinspired ligands can control diverse stem cell behaviors, including adhesion, proliferation, migration, phenotypic transformation, and lineage-specific differentiation. Recent studies in this area have focused on harnessing endogenous growth factors to amplify stem cell expansion or differentiation, and using biomaterials to “knock out” the activity of specific growth factors in stem cell culture.

Biography:
William L. Murphy is currently Harvey D. Spangler Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Co-Director of the Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Center at the University of Wisconsin. He received his B.A. in Physics from Illinois Wesleyan University in 1998, Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Michigan in 2002, and was a postdoctoral fellow in Chemistry at the University of Chicago from 2002-2004. His research interests focus on designing and synthesizing “bioinspired” materials, which actively regulate stem cell behavior. Murphy’s research group is using new materials to address a variety of regenerative medicine challenges, including stem cell differentiation, tissue regeneration, and controlled drug delivery. He has published more than 90 manuscripts and book chapters, filed over 20 patents, and received awards that include the National Science Foundation Career Award and the Wisconsin Vilas Associate Award. He serves on numerous industrial and academic advisory boards.

The Stem Cell Engineering seminar series brings leaders in the field to Georgia Tech to share their most recent work and advances.  The seminars are open to all faculty, trainees and staff interested in stem cell engineering research.  Please visit the Stem Cell Engineering Center website or the Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience website for a list of upcoming and previous speakers. Suggestions for potential speakers are always welcome - email Megan Richards.