Grant: Research Tools and Instruments

Tissue engineering aims to develop tissue substitutes to address the ever-increasing donor tissue and organ shortage. The development of tissue replacements involves combining human cells (stem cells, progenitors or differentiated cells) with porous scaffolds which provide a 3D substrate for cell attachment, proliferation and differentiation. These scaffolds are foamed from either synthetic polymers, natural polymers and/or bioceramics and must be sterile, which involves removal, killing or deactivation of microbial contamination, before seeding with human cells. Scaffolds made from natural polymers like collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid are suitable for tissue engineering applications due to the abundance of cell binding motifs encoded in their protein structure, however, they can not be sterilized using autoclave techniques as elevated heat and pressure conditions denature and degrade these biomolecules. Similarly, ethylene oxide is avoided due to its toxicity while 70% ethanol does not adequately eliminate hydrophilic viruses and bacterial spores. Gamma-irradiation at 25kGy dose is commercially used to sterilize medical devices and is the preferred method to sterilize natural polymer scaffolds. Tissue engineering researchers in the Greater Toronto Hamilton Area (GTHA) have been using the gamma irradiator at the University of Toronto to sterilize their scaffolds. This system was providing affordable sterilization services. However, this irradiator is scheduled to be decommissioned in March 2023 and commercial sterilization providers charge high fees which preclude academic researchers from using their services. A new, safer and affordable irradiation sterilization system is urgently needed to continue to support the research programs of academic researchers in Canada, and specifically in the GTHA. This proposal seeks to fund an X-ray irradiator to establish an affordable service at York University for academic researchers to continue critical tissue engineering research.