Julian Chaudhuri
Julian Chaudhuri
BSc (Eng) London
PhD Reading
CEng FIChemE
Professor of Biochemical & Biomedical Engineering, Head of Department, Chair of Research Committee
Tel: 01225 386349
Fax: 01225 385713
E-mail: J.B.Chaudhuri@bath.ac.uk
Address: Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY
Office: 9W 3.01
Research topic
Our work is in the area of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. The aim of my research is to create devices and systems to enable the in vitro assembly of complex 3D cell-scaffold structures for tissue replacement and regeneration. This interdisciplinary research comprises the manipulation of biomaterials and design of bioreactors for cell growth and hence tissue formation. We combine methodologies from chemical engineering, cell biology and materials processing to develop tissue constructs that are not subject to the prevalent problem of nutrient transport limitations when grown in vitro. Currently, we are engineering several tissue types, including small diameter blood vessels, bone, ligament and cartilage.
Tissue Engineering
Scaffold design
A key feature of tissue engineering is the scaffold upon which the cells are grown to form the tissue construct. We work with collagen as a scaffold material, both in the form of naturally derived structures ie porcine carotid arteries, and also in the form of collagen gels. We are also making tubular, hollow fibre biodegradable scaffolds in collaboration with Dr Semali Perera. These novel scaffolds should allow us to perfuse the growing tissue reducing nutrient limitations. We are beginning to explore the use of rapid prototyping techniques for the production of tissue engineering scaffolds (with Dr Adrian Bowyer, Mech Eng). This approach should allow us to develop scaffold structures that will have a highly pseudo-vascularised network similar to that found in tissues, and also may allow the development of bespoke 3D scaffolds for individual patients based on data from medical scans.
Bioreactor development
The development of bioreactor systems for tissue engineering brings together our scaffold work along with developments in cell biology. We are pursuing a number of bioreactor systems to generate cartilage, ligament, bone and vascular tissue.
A novel reactor to create 3D tissue constructs is being developed with Smith & Nephew plc, funded by a DTI Foresight Award. In this project we are working to generate cartilage tissue, although the generic technology being developed could be applied so a wide range of tissue types.
In collaboration with Dr Richard Oreffo (University of Southampton) and Dr Dek Woolfson (University of Sussex) we are investigating a system that combines human mesenchymal stem cells with a novel scaffold in our bioreactor systems to regenerate cartilage tissue. In another BBSRC-funded project with Dr Oreffo we are developing bioreactors systems for the expansion and differentiation of stem cells.
We are collaborating with Dr Mark Perry (University of Bristol) to develop a bioreactor for ligament tissue engineering. The challenge here is the combination of cells and scaffold with the requisite mechanical forces to stimulate robust tissue formation. We are working with Dr Felicity Rose (University of Nottingham) on the development of a bioreactor so support gastric tissue engineering.
Regenerative medicine
Our lab is part of the University Centre for Regenerative Medicine. This centre brings together work on three key strands of regenerative medicine: tissue engineering, stem cells and signalling (Pharm & Pharm) and developmental biology (Biol & Biochem). http://www.bath.ac.uk/crm/
Selected Publications:
Smith, M, McFetridge, P, Bodamyali, T, Chaudhuri, J B, Howell, J A, Stevens C R and Horrocks, M (2000). Porcine-derived collagen as a scaffold for tissue engineering, Transactions of the Institution of Chemical Engineers, 78C, 19-24.
Bodamyali, T, Jarman-Smith, M, Stevens, C and Chaudhuri, J B (2002). A novel method for quantifying cell migration through tissue engineering scaffolds: evaluation of modified collagen matrices, Biotechnology Letters, 24 (18), 1491-1497.
Chaudhuri, J B, McFetridge, P, and Horrocks, M (2003). Studies with acellular porcine carotid arteries as a matrix for small diameter vascular grafts, Tissue Engineering, 9, (4), 837.
Ellis, M, Yeow, M L, Li, K, Beresford, J N and Chaudhuri, J B (2003). Development of a biodegradable polymer scaffold to mimic cortical bone in a clinically-relevant bioreactor, Tissue Engineering, 9, (4), 844.
Chaudhuri, J B and Al-Rubeai, M, (eds) Bioreactors for Tissue Engineering, Kluwer, in press