1996 Northwestern University, B.S. Materials Science and Engineering
2004 Northwestern University, Ph.D. Materials Science and Engineering
2004-present: Northwestern University, Department of Urology, Postdoctoral Fellow
Dan's research focuses primarily on the interactions of cells and tissues with implantable biomaterials. Modern repair of body damage due to disease or trauma relies on the use of artificial materials to replace or augment the injured tissue. The current concept of tissue engineering uses these biomaterials as a temporary support structure, allowing the body's natural systems to perform the repair naturally, over a specified time. At its most basic level, each system is composed of individual cells, whose initial interactions with a newly-implanted biomaterial may determine the long-term success or failure of the entire implant. Our study of these concepts considers many aspects, including surface chemistry of the implant, its materials properties, and the biological response of the cells. Self-Assembling Molecules for Cell Signaling Cell phenotype relies strongly on interactions with a surface. Presentation of specific chemical groups, in an organized manner, allows for some control over cell behavior. I am working with a family of peptide-amphiphile (PA) molecules that self-assemble to form fibers with widths of ~ 7 nm and lengths of several hundred nanometers. These nanofibers display epitopes on their peripheries that bind small molecules or influence cell adhesion. One series of PAs uses lysine dendrons at the molecule’s terminus to create a poly(lys) surface on the nanofiber. In collaboration with members of the Stupp group, we have modified these fibers to contain the RGDS ligand. We have found that bladder smooth muscle cells adhere preferentially to scaffolds coated with these PA molecules. Other series of PAs have been designed to bind the growth factors bFGF and VEGF. These proteins are known to play an important role in influencing bladder cell phenotype, and directing angiogenesis of the developing tissue. We believe that a controlled delivery of these proteins to cells will assist in directing the repair of the injured or diseased tissue.
Harrington DA, Sharma AK, Erickson BA, Cheng EY, "Bladder Tissue Engineering through Nanotechnology," World Journal of Urology, 2008, in press.
Guler MO, Hsu L, Soukasene S, Harrington DA, Hulvat JF, Stupp SI, "Presentation of RGDS epitopes on self-assembled nanofibers of branched peptide amphiphiles," Biomacromolecules, 7(6), 1855-63, 2006. Harrington DA, Cheng EY, Guler MO, Lee LK, Donovan JL, Claussen RC, Stupp SI, "Branched peptide-amphiphiles as self-assembling coatings for tissue engineering scaffolds," Journal of Biomedical Materials Research, Part A, 78(1), 157-67, 2006. Harrington DA, Behana HA, Tew GN, Claussen RC, Stupp SI, "Supramolecular Fluorophores for Biological Studies: Phenylene Vinylene – Amino Acid Fluorophores,” Chemistry and Biology, 12(10), 1085-91, 2005. Beqaj SH, Donovan JL, Liu DB, Harrington DA, Alpert SA, Cheng EY, "Role of basic fibroblast growth factor in the neuropathic bladder phenotype," Journal of Urology, 174(4-2), 1699-703, 2005. Silva GA, Czeisler C, Niece KL, Beniash E, Harrington DA, Kessler JA, Stupp SI, "Selective differentiation of neural progenitor cells by high-epitope density nanofibers," Science, 303(5662),1352-5, 2004. Hwang JJ, Iyer SN, Li L-S, Claussen RC, Harrington DA, Stupp SI, “Self-assembling biomaterials: liquid crystal phases of cholesteryl-oligo(L-lactic acid) and their interactions with cells," Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, 99 (15), 2002, 9662-9667. Hwang JJ, Harrington DA, Klok H-A, Stupp SI, “Cell-synthetic surface interactions: self-assembling biomaterials” in Methods in Tissue Engineering, ed. Atala A, Lanza RP, San Diego: Academic Press, 2001, 741-750. Kwan KS, Harrington DA, Moore PA, Hahn JR, Degroot JV, Burns GT, “Synthesis and use of colloidal silica for reinforcement in silicone elastomers”, Rubber Chemistry and Technology, 74 (4), 2001, 630-644. |
