Tunable brush-like polymers to improve how implants interact with tissues
Official title: Highly Tunable Brush-Like Polymer Architectures to Control Therapeutic Delivery and Cell-Material Interactions
Funded at University of Connecticut Storrs · NIH-11355506 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A scientist team is creating advanced, bio-friendly brush-like polymer coatings to better control how implanted materials behave in the body and interact with cells.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Connecticut Storrs NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Storrs-Mansfield, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $402,500 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM146771-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11355506 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients who need biomaterial implants or therapies that rely on polymer-coated surfaces may benefit from improved biocompatibility and reduced adverse interactions.
✕Less likely to help
Patients receiving non-biocompatible materials or current standard implants without benefits from improved brush-like polymer interfaces may not gain direct advantages.
What this research studies
This grant funds work at the intersection of polymer science and biology to build bottom-up materials that can direct how tissues respond to implants. Researchers will create cytocompatible, brush-like polymer surfaces on silk substrates and study how different viscoelastic properties influence cell and tissue behavior in lab cultures and animal models. The goal is to develop a flexible platform that tunes interactions at the molecular level to improve biocompatibility and therapeutic delivery. The project will generate new knowledge about brush-brush and brush-cell interactions and their effects on muscle, immune, and connective tissues. Results could guide safer, more effective biomaterials for medical applications.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to smarter biomaterials that interact more harmoniously with the body, potentially reducing toxicity and improving tissue healing.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary studies in polymer-biomaterial interfaces have shown that surface chemistry and mechanics can influence cell responses, supporting the potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Connecticut Storrs
Storrs-Mansfield, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Burke, Kelly Anne — University of Connecticut Storrs
- Study coordinator: Burke, Kelly Anne
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.