Date Approved
6-9-2025
Embargo Period
6-9-2026
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Ph.D. Biomedical Engineering
Department
Biomedical Engineering
College
Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering
Advisor
Sebastián Vega, Ph.D.
Committee Member 1
Lark Perez, Ph.D.
Committee Member 2
Mary Staehle, Ph.D.
Committee Member 3
Mary Alpaugh, Ph.D.
Committee Member 4
Patrick Hwang, Ph.D.
Keywords
biomaterials;cell therapy;computational protein design;peptides;stem cells;synthetic biology
Abstract
Peptide-functionalized biomaterials enable cell-material interactions through peptide-induced activation of native and synthetic receptors. This dissertation expands the clinical potential of biomaterials by harnessing native and synthetic receptor-peptide interactions. Key advancements include: (1) developing a novel method to functionalize rigid biomaterials with peptides, (2) designing antimicrobial peptide-modified hydrogels and plastics, (3) functionalizing hydrogels with N-cadherin peptides to improve stem cell manufacturing, and (4) engineering synthetic mammalian transmembrane receptors that initiate non-native intracellular responses to peptide-ligands. Using thiol-norbornene click chemistry, we functionalized rigid plastics and soft hydrogels using therapeutic peptides with spatial and temporal control. While advances in synthetic biology have enabled programming mammalian cells with transmembrane receptors responsive to soluble and cell-laden ligands, the development of receptors that respond to material-bound ligands remained limited. To expand the synthetic biology toolbox, we developed EPDA (Extracellular Peptide-ligand Dimerization Actuator) receptors, which allow programmed cells to communicate with peptide-functionalized biomaterials and reversibly activate intracellular responses. These peptide biomaterials and receptor technologies lay the groundwork for future biomedical advancements, particularly in tissue regeneration.
Recommended Citation
Recktenwald, Matthias, "ENGINEERED PEPTIDE BIOMATERIALS AND SYNTHETIC TRANSMEMBRANE RECEPTORS FOR NATIVE AND PROGRAMMABLE CELL INTERACTIONS" (2025). Theses and Dissertations. 3391.
https://rdw.rowan.edu/etd/3391
