Patterned Silicon Oxide and Zirconium Oxide Interfaces on Hydrogel Surfaces for Nerve Regeneration Devices for the Central Nervous System

Abstract

Currently there are no effective treatment options for spinal cord injuries due to biological impairments to nerve regeneration in the central nervous system as well as difficulties in applying effective peripheral nervous system treatments to the spinal cord. The creation of a nerve repair device in the central nervous system is explored in this thesis through developing the techniques for fabricating a nerve guidance conduit that utilizes a microenvironment optimized for directed axonal regeneration by creating a patterned interface that promotes the directional alignment of an extracellular matrix on the surface of oligo[poly(ethylene glycol) fumarate] (OPF), a hydrogel optimized for spinal cord compatibility. In order to design such a patterned interface, methods of creating patterned silicon oxide and zirconium oxide interfaces on the surface of OPF were explored through studying the solution phase deposition of these metal oxides onto OPF, the stability of these metal oxide surfaces on OPF, the stability of self-assembled monolayers of phosphonate (SAMP) on these metal oxides, and the patterning of these metal oxides and SAMPs onto OPF to create an interface that exhibits differential cellular adhesion. Through the exploration of these factors in creating a patterned interface on OPF, significant progress towards a patterned zirconium oxide / octadecylphosphonic acid SAMP interface and a patterned zirconium oxide interface on OPF has been made, which may eventually lead to the fabrication of nerve regeneration devices for the central nervous system.