Read Books Online and Download eBooks, EPub, PDF, Mobi, Kindle, Text Full Free.
Tissue Engineering For Degenerative Intervertebral Discs
Download Tissue Engineering For Degenerative Intervertebral Discs full books in PDF, epub, and Kindle. Read online Tissue Engineering For Degenerative Intervertebral Discs ebook anywhere anytime directly on your device. Fast Download speed and no annoying ads. We cannot guarantee that every ebooks is available!
Book Synopsis Tissue Engineering For Degenerative Intervertebral Discs by : Jun Zou
Download or read book Tissue Engineering For Degenerative Intervertebral Discs written by Jun Zou and published by World Scientific. This book was released on 2019-03-08 with total page 160 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Low back pain is a common disorder in the clinical treatment of the Department of Orthopedics. Lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration is a main reason for the chronic pain and the process is difficult to reverse. Traditional treatment methods include conservative treatment and surgical treatment. Although the clinical symptoms caused by intervertebral disc degeneration can be alleviated to a certain extent, these treatment methods do not solve the fundamental issues and they also produce corresponding complications. The rise of tissue engineering technology and its applications in different fields have brought new ideas for the treatment of intervertebral disc degeneration. This book discusses the fundamentals as well as more recent developments in stem cell therapy and tissue engineering technology and offers an alternative for treating degeneration of intervertebral discs.
Book Synopsis Cells and Biomaterials for Intervertebral Disc Regeneration by : Sibylle Grad
Download or read book Cells and Biomaterials for Intervertebral Disc Regeneration written by Sibylle Grad and published by Springer Nature. This book was released on 2022-06-01 with total page 96 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Disorders related to the intervertebral disc (IVD) are common causes of morbidity and of severe life quality deterioration. IVD degeneration, although in many cases asymptomatic, is often the origin of painful neck and back diseases. In Western societies IVD related pain and disability account for enormous health care costs as a result of work absenteeism and thus lost production, disability benefits, medical and insurance expenses. Although only a small percentage of patients with disc disorders finally will undergo surgery, spinal surgery has been one of the fastest growing disciplines in the musculoskeletal field in recent years. Nevertheless, current treatment options are still a matter of controversial discussion. In particular, they hardly can restore normal spine biomechanics and prevent degeneration of adjacent tissues. While degeneration affects all areas of the IVD, the most constant and noticeable changes occur in the gel-like central part, the nucleus pulposus (NP). Recent emphasis has therefore been put in biological ways to regenerate the NP; however, there are a number of obstacles to overcome, considering the exceptional biological and biomechanical environment of this tissue. Different biological approaches such as molecular, gene, and cell based therapies have been investigated and have shown promising results in both in vitro and in vivo studies. Nonetheless, considerable hurdles still exist in their application for IVD regeneration in human patients. The choice of the cells and the choice of the cell carrier suitable for implantation pose major challenges for research and development activities. This lecture recapitulates the basics of IVD structure, function, and degeneration mechanisms. The first part reviews the recent progress in the field of disc and stem cell based regenerative approaches. In the second part, most appropriate biomaterials that have been evaluated as cell or molecule carrier to cope with degenerative disc disease are outlined. The potential and limitations of cell- and biomaterial-based treatment strategies and perspectives for future clinical applications are discussed. Table of Contents: Cell Therapy for Nucleus Pulposus Regeneration / Recent Advances in Biomaterial Based Tissue Engineering for Intervertebral Disc Regeneration
Book Synopsis Cells and Biomaterials for Intervertebral Disc Regeneration by : Sibylle Grad
Download or read book Cells and Biomaterials for Intervertebral Disc Regeneration written by Sibylle Grad and published by Morgan & Claypool Publishers. This book was released on 2010 with total page 96 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Disorders related to the intervertebral disc (IVD) are common causes of morbidity and of severe life quality deterioration. IVD degeneration, although in many cases asymptomatic, is often the origin of painful neck and back diseases. In Western societies IVD related pain and disability account for enormous health care costs as a result of work absenteeism and thus lost production, disability benefits, medical and insurance expenses. Although only a small percentage of patients with disc disorders finally will undergo surgery, spinal surgery has been one of the fastest growing disciplines in the musculoskeletal field in recent years. Nevertheless, current treatment options are still a matter of controversial discussion. In particular, they hardly can restore normal spine biomechanics and prevent degeneration of adjacent tissues. While degeneration affects all areas of the IVD, the most constant and noticeable changes occur in the gel-like central part, the nucleus pulposus (NP). Recent emphasis has therefore been put in biological ways to regenerate the NP; however, there are a number of obstacles to overcome, considering the exceptional biological and biomechanical environment of this tissue. Different biological approaches such as molecular, gene, and cell based therapies have been investigated and have shown promising results in both in vitro and in vivo studies. Nonetheless, considerable hurdles still exist in their application for IVD regeneration in human patients. The choice of the cells and the choice of the cell carrier suitable for implantation pose major challenges for research and development activities. This lecture recapitulates the basics of IVD structure, function, and degeneration mechanisms. The first part reviews the recent progress in the field of disc and stem cell based regenerative approaches. In the second part, most appropriate biomaterials that have been evaluated as cell or molecule carrier to cope with degenerative disc disease are outlined. The potential and limitations of cell- and biomaterial-based treatment strategies and perspectives for future clinical applications are discussed. Table of Contents: Cell Therapy for Nucleus Pulposus Regeneration / Recent Advances in Biomaterial Based Tissue Engineering for Intervertebral Disc Regeneration
Book Synopsis Tissue Engineering Strategies for Total Disc Replacement by : Marianne Lintz
Download or read book Tissue Engineering Strategies for Total Disc Replacement written by Marianne Lintz and published by . This book was released on 2021 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Degenerative disc disease (DDD) is implicated as one of the primary causes of lower back pain (LBP), the leading cause of disability worldwide. This degeneration is characterized by irreversible detrimental changes to the structure of the intervertebral disc (IVD) which then severely impairs its mechanical function in the spine. The gel-like nucleus pulposus (NP) at its core loses its ability to hydrate while damage propagates through the surrounding annulus fibrosus (AF) in the form of tears and lesions, rendering it unable to resist elastic deformation. Current surgical interventions treat the painful symptoms of the disease rather than the underlying causes, providing only a temporary solution. Tissue-engineered (TE) repair strategies have been proposed for the last two decades as a means of preventing disease advancement in the long term, aiming to restore the native disc's structure as well as repair damage to the cell population. While promising, recapitulating the disc's complex fibrous architecture and mechanical behavior represents an enduring challenge in the field, particularly in attempts to scale up to larger animal models for clinical translation.This thesis sought to augment engineered constructs in vitro by investigating the interplay between matrix composition and mechanical behavior, as well as provide mechanical support to constructs for in vivo delivery. In particular, it describes how the manipulation of fiber formation through media glucose content in vitro plays a critical role in governing matrix structure and mechanical integrity (Chapter 1); how these same mechanisms function in a diseased state in vivo to influence the developing disc (Chapter 2); and how providing a supplemental cage structure to immature TE-IVDs can prevent initial displacement and collapse following implantation to eventually ensure successful tissue integration. Collectively, the work presented here offers crucial insight into how to continue the advancement of biologically based TDR strategies towards use in the clinic.
Book Synopsis The Intervertebral Disc by : Irving M. Shapiro
Download or read book The Intervertebral Disc written by Irving M. Shapiro and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2013-09-02 with total page 440 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The intervertebral disc is a complex structure that separates opposing vertebrae, permits a wide range of motion, and accommodates high biomechanical forces. Disc degeneration leads to a loss of function and is often associated with excruciating pain. Written by leading scientists and clinicians, the first part of the book provides a review of the basic biology of the disc in health and disease. The second part considers strategies to mitigate the effects of disc degeneration and discusses the possibility of engineering replacement tissues. The final section is devoted to approaches to model normal development and elucidate the pathogenesis of degenerative disc disease using animal, organ and cell culture techniques. The book bridges the gap between the basic and clinical sciences; the target audience includes basic scientists, orthopaedists and neurologists, while at the same time appealing to the needs of graduate students, medical students, interns and fellows.
Book Synopsis Mesenchymal Stem Cells by : Phuc Van Pham
Download or read book Mesenchymal Stem Cells written by Phuc Van Pham and published by BoD – Books on Demand. This book was released on 2017-11-29 with total page 302 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Mesenchymal Stem Cells: Isolation, Characterization, and Applications thoroughly presents the isolation, characterization, and some applications of mesenchymal stem cells in the clinic. The book has two parts: "Isolation and Characterization" and "Clinical Perspectives and Applications." In Part I, the subsequent chapters introduce some techniques in isolation, characterization, and purification of mesenchymal stem cells in different tissues. In Part II, some applications of mesenchymal stem cells in the popular diseases, which include cartilage regeneration, spinal cord injury, and osteoarthritis, are discussed. This book provides a succinct yet comprehensive overview of mesenchymal stem cells for advanced students, graduate students, and researchers.
Book Synopsis Fabrication of Multi-Component Tissue for Intervertebral Disc Tissue Engineering by : Tsz-Kit Chik
Download or read book Fabrication of Multi-Component Tissue for Intervertebral Disc Tissue Engineering written by Tsz-Kit Chik and published by . This book was released on 2017-01-26 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This dissertation, "Fabrication of Multi-component Tissue for Intervertebral Disc Tissue Engineering" by Tsz-kit, Chik, 戚子傑, was obtained from The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong) and is being sold pursuant to Creative Commons: Attribution 3.0 Hong Kong License. The content of this dissertation has not been altered in any way. We have altered the formatting in order to facilitate the ease of printing and reading of the dissertation. All rights not granted by the above license are retained by the author. Abstract: Intervertebral disc tissue engineering is challenging because it involves the integration of multiple tissues with distinct structures and compositions such as lamellar annulus fibrosus, gel'like nucleus pulposus and cartilage endplate. Each of them has different compositions and different structures. It is hypothesized that integration of tissues can be enhanced with appropriate mechanical and biological stimuli. Meanwhile, effect of torsional stimulus on cell re'orientation in mesenchymal stem cell'collagen tubular constructs is investigated in this study. Furthermore, it is proposed that these findings can be used to fabricate a multicomponent unit for intervertebral disc tissue engineering. It has been demonstrated that mechanical and biological stimuli can stabilize the interface between osteogenic and chondrogenic differentiated constructs with enhanced ultimate tensile stress while the phenotype of osteogenic and chondrogenic differentiated constructs were maintained. Scanning electronic microscopic images have shown aligned collagen fibrils and presence of calcium at the interface, indicating the possibility of the formation of a calcified zone. In addition, it is proven that torsional stimulus triggered re'orientation of mesenchymal stem cells in collagen lamellae towards a preferred angle. Cell alignments were confirmed by using a MatLab'based program to analyze the actin filament and the cell alignment via Phalloidin and Hematoxylin staining, respectively. Cells and actin filaments were inclined around 30o from the vertical axis, while cells and filaments in the control group (static loading) aligned along the vertical axis. Furthermore, a double'layers bioengineered unit was fabricated, with intact osteogenic differentiated parts at both ends. Comparatively higher cell density was observed at the interface between layers, demonstrating the interactions between layers, while the phenotype of each part was maintained in 14 days culture. This study concludes that a multi'components bioengineered unit with preferred cell alignments can be fabricated. This provides new insights to future development of bioengineered spinal motion segment for treating late stage disc degeneration. DOI: 10.5353/th_b4784944 Subjects: Intervertebral disk prostheses Tissue engineering - Materials
Book Synopsis Tissue Engineering of the Intervertebral Disc Using Chemical and Mechanical Stimulation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells by : Katherine Deline Hudson
Download or read book Tissue Engineering of the Intervertebral Disc Using Chemical and Mechanical Stimulation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells written by Katherine Deline Hudson and published by . This book was released on 2016 with total page 272 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The intervertebral disc (IVD) is a composite structure that allows bending, twisting of and load transfer through the spine. Disc damage often begins with tears in the outer annulus fibrosus (AF), allowing the inner nucleus pulposus (NP) to herniate through the weakened AF. If this condition is allowed to continue, full disc degeneration will result. Current treatment options are limited, and invasive surgical intervention can cause further degradation of the adjacent discs. This dissertation discusses how the pillars of tissue engineering are used to develop constructs for whole intervertebral disc replacement. Specifically, it describes the effects of chemical (chapters 4 and 5) and mechanical (chapter 2) stimulation, cell source (chapter 3), and scaffold materials (appendix A) on the development of tissue engineered IVDs both in vitro and in vivo.
Book Synopsis Advances In Tissue Engineering by : Julia M Polak
Download or read book Advances In Tissue Engineering written by Julia M Polak and published by World Scientific. This book was released on 2008-08-20 with total page 947 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Advances in Tissue Engineering is a unique volume and the first of its kind to bring together leading names in the field of tissue engineering and stem cell research. A relatively young science, tissue engineering can be seen in both scientific and sociological contexts and successes in the field are now leading to clinical reality. This book attempts to define the path from basic science to practical application. A contribution from the UK Stem Cell Bank and opinions of venture capitalists offer a variety of viewpoints, and exciting new areas of stem cell biology are highlighted. With over fifty stellar contributors, this book presents the most up-to-date information in this very topical and exciting field./a
Book Synopsis Biological Approaches to Spinal Disc Repair and Regeneration for Clinicians by : Roger Hartl
Download or read book Biological Approaches to Spinal Disc Repair and Regeneration for Clinicians written by Roger Hartl and published by Thieme. This book was released on 2017-06-30 with total page 447 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Top Experts Share Clinical Insights on Biological Interventions for Spine-Related Disease Although there have been significant advancements in minimally invasive spinal surgery techniques in the last few decades, optimal outcomes for chronic low back pain remain elusive. A number of promising clinical trials have been conducted using tissue engineering and biological interventions for disc degeneration. Written by renowned innovators, this is the first book that covers implementation of these groundbreaking approaches for disc disease. The text begins with key fundamentals including anatomy and physiology, pathophysiology, imaging and biomechanics to delineate healthy versus diseased spine. Subsequent sections discuss treatment strategies, research findings, and future developments. Throughout each chapter, renowned spine surgeons and scientists share clinical pearls gleaned from hands-on experience. Key Highlights The current state of the art in biological and tissue engineering procedures for spinal disorders Treatment methodologies including nucleus replacement and repair, annulus fibrosus repair, total disc transplantation, and mechanical total disc replacement Innovative treatment strategies for disc regeneration, such as genes and proteins Growth factors including platelet-rich plasma (PRP), which has shown promise for the stimulation and acceleration of bone and soft tissue healing Cell-based therapy for spinal disc regeneration and repair including the use of stem cells and chondrocytes In-depth discussion of research including animal versus human model, in-vitro, and a summary of biologic clinical trials This is a must-have resource for trainee and practicing orthopaedic surgeons and neurosurgeons who treat patients for spine-related conditions. It is essential reading for all clinicians who have an interest in cutting-edge tissue engineering and biological treatment interventions.
Book Synopsis Gene and Cell Delivery for Intervertebral Disc Degeneration by : Raquel Madeira Gonçalves
Download or read book Gene and Cell Delivery for Intervertebral Disc Degeneration written by Raquel Madeira Gonçalves and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 2018-04-27 with total page 279 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Intervertebral disc degeneration is one of the major causes of lower back pain for which the common therapeutic interventions are not efficient. A search for alternative therapies for lower back pain and intervertebral disc degeneration includes cell-based therapies. Unfortunately, intervertebral disc degeneration is avascular and thus a hostile environment for cell survival. Furthermore, cellular characterization in intervertebral disc degeneration, and particularly in the nucleus pulposus, is controversial, mainly due to lack of specific markers and species variability. This book adds to the knowledge on cellular and molecular therapies for intervertebral disc degeneration and associated lower back pain. Key Selling Features: Describes the ontogeny and phenotype of intervertebral disc cells Reviews the role that inflammation plays in disco-genic pain Highlights the types of cells that might be used as sources for treating degenerating intervertebral discs Summarizes current alternative therapies Explores methods for cell delivery into degenerated intervertebral discs
Book Synopsis Innovative Tissue Engineering Advances for Early and Late Intervertebral Disc Degeneration Repair by : Rayan Fairag
Download or read book Innovative Tissue Engineering Advances for Early and Late Intervertebral Disc Degeneration Repair written by Rayan Fairag and published by . This book was released on 2020 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration is one of the major causes of chronic back pain. It accounts for 40% of cases and is associated with disability affecting quality of life of patients worldwide. Despite the substantial economic and healthcare impact and advancement in diagnostic tools, the currently available therapeutic strategies remain limited. Tissue engineering (TE) is an emerging field that has focused on the development of reparative and regeneration strategies to improve, maintain, and restore the function and structure of the spine. In the early stages of disc degeneration, where the disc structure is still intact, minimal evidence of degeneration can be observed. Cell-based therapy using an appropriate cell source, along with a suitable soft injectable carrier, can be a promising option to repair the biology and regenerate the disc, preserving it from further degeneration and improving the associated symptoms. However, once the disc reaches the late stages of degeneration, loss of disc height, space narrowing, disc fibrosis, and formation of bone erosions will occur, and surgical interventions will likely become unavoidable if other therapeutic modalities have failed. Filling the disc space with bone grafts or metallic cages is usually a standard technique along with fusion surgery to increase stability and restore the spine alignment. TE using three-dimensional (3D) printing technology offers a better approach for overcoming the limitations associated with bone grafts and metallic cages to fill the disc space.The present thesis hypothesized that using nucleus pulposus cells (NP)-seeded Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-grafted hyaluronan (HA-pNIPAM) hydrogel as a cell-based therapy will help repair early-stage IVD degeneration. However, in late stages, 3D-printed scaffolds represent a promising candidate as custom, on-site substitute material for better surgical outcomes"--
Book Synopsis Development of a Composite Tissue-engineered Intervertebral Disc by : Robert Daniel Bowles
Download or read book Development of a Composite Tissue-engineered Intervertebral Disc written by Robert Daniel Bowles and published by . This book was released on 2011 with total page 254 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Degenerative disc disease and its associated spinal disorders are a leading cause of disability in the United States and around the world. Currently a number of treatments exist, but they are mostly palliative in nature and fail to restore function to the spine. The field of tissue engineering provides the opportunity to create treatments that will replace the diseased tissue with new tissue and that can not only relieve the symptoms of the patient, but can also restore function. This dissertation focuses on the development of a composite tissue-engineered intervertebral disc (TE-IVD) that can be used to replace the diseased intervertebral disc (IVD) in the spine. TE-IVDs were developed with circumferentially aligned collagen fibrils and cells in the annulus fibrosus (AF) region of the IVD by contracting cell-seeded collagen gels around a cell-seeded alginate gel nucleus pulposus (NP). Altering the original collagen concentration and cell seeding density was able to regulate the final AF composition and collagen alignment in the TE-IVD. Using the tunable AF region of the TE-IVD, the effects of altering the AF composition and architecture on TE-IVD tissue development were studied both in vitro and in the native disc space. It was determined that changes in the AF composition led to altered pressurization of the TEIVD under load and this change in mechanics regulated the in vivo tissue development. These in vivo studies were the first to demonstrate that tissue- engineered total disc replacement (TE-TDR) could produce an integrated and mechanically functional IVD-like tissue in the native disc space. Despite the enthusiasm for TE-TDR, this is the first body of work that demonstrated a TE-IVD could replace and restore function to the spine when implanted into the disc space. Furthermore, the field has largely focused on the collagen organization of the AF in TE-IVD design, but this dissertation presents AF hydraulic permeability as a key design parameter due to its ability to regulate proper tissue development in the native disc space. Overall, this work represents a benchmark in TE-IVD research and pushes TE-TDR towards the clinic.
Book Synopsis Effects of Design Factors and Microenvironment on Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Nucleus Pulposus Cells for Intervertebral Disc Tissue Engineering by : Ann Ouyang
Download or read book Effects of Design Factors and Microenvironment on Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Nucleus Pulposus Cells for Intervertebral Disc Tissue Engineering written by Ann Ouyang and published by . This book was released on 2017 with total page 157 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Intervertebral disc degeneration is a common and significant health concern that often leads to low back pain and worker disability. Disc degeneration is often irreversible, and current treatments do not adequately restore cell health or biomechanical function. Tissue engineering strategies are a possible solution to regenerate disc matrix, but one challenge for regenerating tissue is the degenerative disc microenvironment, which is characterized by inflammation, hypoxia, low glucose, low pH, and high osmolality. This research focuses on the effect of design factors on tissue-engineered constructs in the context of the disc microenvironment.
Book Synopsis Investigating Intervertebral Disc Degeneration and Regeneration in a Rabbit Model by : Ian Alexander Cowgill
Download or read book Investigating Intervertebral Disc Degeneration and Regeneration in a Rabbit Model written by Ian Alexander Cowgill and published by . This book was released on 2005 with total page 230 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Book Synopsis Lumbar Intervertebral Disc Degeneration, an Issue of Orthopedic Clinics by : Dino Samartzis
Download or read book Lumbar Intervertebral Disc Degeneration, an Issue of Orthopedic Clinics written by Dino Samartzis and published by W B Saunders Company. This book was released on 2011 with total page 606 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Epidemiology of Lumbar Intervertebral Disc Degeneration, Structure and Biology of the Intervertebral Disc in Health and Disease, Nutrition of the Intervertebral Disc, The Endplate and Its Relevance with Intervertebral Disc Degeneration, Genetic Risk Factors in Intervertebral Disc Degeneration, Biomechanics of Intervertebral Disc Degeneration, Diagnostic Tools and Imaging Methods in Intervertebral Disc Degeneration, An Overview of the Management of Degenerative Disc Disease, Adjacent Level Disc Disease - Is it Really a Fusion Disease? Prosthetic Total Disc Replacement, Stem Cell Regeneration of the Intervertebral Disc, Gene Therapy for Intervertebral Disc Degeneration, Tissue Engineering for Intervertebral Disc Degeneration, Emerging Technologies for Molecular Therapy for Intervertebral Disc Degeneration, Intervertebral Disc Transplantation
Book Synopsis Mechanics of Biomimetic Materials for Tissue Engineering of the Intervertebral Disc by : Daniel G. T. Strange
Download or read book Mechanics of Biomimetic Materials for Tissue Engineering of the Intervertebral Disc written by Daniel G. T. Strange and published by . This book was released on 2012 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Tissue engineering offers a paradigm shift in the treatment of back pain. Engineered intervertebral discs could replace degenerated tissue and overcome the limitations of current treatments that disrupt the biomechanics of the spine. New materials, which exhibit sophisticated mechanical responses, are needed to provide templates for tissue regeneration. These behaviours include timedependent deformation-facilitating shock absorption and nutrient transfer and strong material anisotropy and tensile-compressive nonlinearities-providing flexibility in controlled directions. In this work, frameworks for the design of materials with controllable structure-property relationships are developed. The time-dependent mechanical properties of composites of agar, alginate and gelatin hydrogels are investigated. It is shown that the time-dependent responses of the composites can be tuned over a wide range. It is then demonstrated that materials mimicking the fibre-reinforced nature of natural tissues can be developed by infiltrating thick electrospun fibre networks with alginate. These fibre-reinforced hydrogels have tensile and compressive properties that can be separately altered. To better understand the mechanical behaviour of these hydrogel-based materials, improved methods for characterising poroelastic and poroviscoelastic time dependent material properties using indentation are developed. It is shown that poroviscoelastic relaxation is the product of separate poroelastic and viscoelastic relaxation responses. The techniques developed here provide a methodology to rapidly characterise the properties of time-dependent materials and to create materials with complex structure-property relationships similar to those found in natural tissues; they present a framework for biomimetic materials design. The work in this thesis can be used to inform the design of clinically relevant tissue engineering treatments and help the quarter of a million people each year who undergo spinal surgery to reduce back pain.
