My research group focuses on the development of bioactive and bioresponsive materials that can be used as cell culture systems. Specifically, we design synthetic biomaterials that capture key features of the unique chemistry and physical properties of a cell’s niche—an environment that is not only tissue specific, but can be strikingly heterogeneous and dynamic. Unique to our approach is the ability to create cell-laden matrices in three-dimensional space in which the material properties can be changed on demand—so-called 4D biology. Ultimately, we seek to understand how cells sense, store, and exchange information with its surrounding matrix and then use this knowledge to engineer biomaterial niches as cell delivery vehicles for tissue regeneration, in vitro models of disease, and physiologically-relevant models for drug discovery and screening.
NAS Research Briefings: Kristi S. Anseth – Biomaterials as Synthetic Extracellular Matrices
Boulder Conversations with Extraordinary People
Awards and Achievements
- NSF Waterman Award ( 2004)
- Elected to the National Academy of Engineering ( 2009)
- Elected to the Institute of Medicine ( 2009)
- Elected to the National Academy of Sciences ( 2013)
- Elected to the National Academy of Inventors