Student Profile

Contact Email: paxat@nottingham.ac.uk

Undergraduate Degree: MEng Biochemical Engineering (University of Bath)

PhD Summary

In vitro cell-secreted decellularised matrices provide a useful platform to study cell matrix interactions. We have optimised production of decellularised matrices secreted by primary calvarial (bone) cells in the presence of pro-inflammatory cytokines – mimicking disease states found at the site of many potential tissue engineering interventions.

Matrices have been robustly characterised. Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (ToF-SIMS), along with histological and immunohistochemical techniques, have been used to investigate the effect of cytokine stimulation on matrix composition. The subsequent behaviour of primary calvarial and embryonic stem cells reseeded on treated matrices has been studied.

Such insights aid our understanding of cell-ECM interactions in complex microenvironments and stand to inform the development of future tissue engineering and cell therapy interventions.

Techniques used include mammalian primary and embryonic stem cell culture, ToF-SIMS, multivariate analysis, histology and immunohistochemistry, along with a range of other skills.

Training and research in ToF-SIMS and multivariate analysis was undertaken during an 8-week research visit to the University of Washington’s NESAC/BIO in Seattle, hosted by Prof. Buddy Ratner.

Publications, Presentations and Awards

Publications

• AJ Taylor, MR Alexander, LDK Buttery. The development and characterisation of primary calvarial cell secreted decellularised matrices to direct osteogenic differentiation of embryonic stem cells. J Tissue Eng Regen Med 2012; 6 (Suppl. 1): 27.P26 p.145
• AJ Taylor, MR Alexander, LDK Buttery. The development and characterisation of primary calvarial cell secreted decellularised matrices. European Cells and Materials 2012; 23 (Suppl. 4): p.77
• AJ Taylor, MR Alexander, LDK Buttery. Bone tissue engineering: Using surfaces to direct function. European Cells and Materials 2012; 22 (Suppl. 3): p25
• M.J. Sawkins, W. Bowen, P. Dhadda, H. Markides, L.E. Sidney, AJ Taylor, F.R.A.J. Rose, S.F. Badylak, K.M. Shakesheff & L.J. White. 2013, Hydrogels Derived from Demineralized and Decellularized Bone Extracellular Matrix, Acta Biomaterialia, 9(8), 7865-73

Oral Presentations

• CCPD Early Stage Researchers’ Forum. Nottingham, 28 November 2012.
• UK Society for Biomaterials. Nottingham, 27-28 June 2012.

Poster Presentations

• CCPD Early Stage Researchers’ Forum. Nottingham, 28 November 2012.
• TERMIS World Congress. Vienna, 5-8 September 2012.
• Tissue & Cell Engineering Society. Liverpool, 23-25 July 2012.
• Tissue & Cell Engineering Society. Leeds, 19-21 July 2011.
• UK National Stem Cell Network                . York, 30 March - 1 April 2011.
• UK & Ireland Controlled Release Society. Hoddesdon, 23 January 2008.

Awards

Best poster presentation. CCPD Early Stage Researchers’ Forum, 28 November 2012
3rd placed oral presentation. 11th UK Society of Biomaterials Conference, 27-28 June 2012
Travel bursary (£100).  CCPD Collaborative Network Symposium,  27 April 2012
Carol Lawrenson Award for undergraduate research. University of Bath, 17 June 2009
Nuffield Science Bursary. QinetiQ and the Nuffield Foundation, August 2002

Future/Career Plans

I am actively seeking a postdoctoral position in an interdisciplinary tissue engineering, biological/biomaterial surface analysis or ECM biology group in the UK or abroad to commence following submission of my PhD thesis in September 2013.

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