Liliana S. Moreira Teixeira, PhD
Department of Developmental BioEngineering
University of Twente
Faculty Science & Technology
Institute for Biomedical Technology & Technical Medicine (MIRA)
Zuidhorst ZH112
Drienerlolaan 5
7522NB Enschede, The Netherlands
P +31-(0)53-489-3750
F +31-(0)53-489-2150
l.s.moreirateixeira@utwente.nl
Background
- 2007-2011: Doctoral degree in Tissue Engineering, at Twente University, MIRA Institute for Biomedical Technology and Technical Medicine, The Netherlands. PhD thesis entitled: “Injectable hydrogels of cartilaginous matrix mimics.”
- 2005-2007: Master degree in Biomedical Engineering, at the Faculty of Engineering from the University of Porto, Portugal. Master thesis entitled "Bone remodeling: regulation by central nervous system".
- 2005-2001: Bachelor degree in Applied Biology, at the University of Minho, Portugal.
Current research
Cartilage damage typically arises as a focal defect, usually caused by trauma. If left untreated, these defects can lead to osteoarthritis (OA). In situ forming hydrogels can be tailored for the treatment of local cartilage defects and degenerative cartilage diseases, such as OA, acting as healing plasters. My main research is based on a recently developed technology platform of enzymatically crosslinkable hydrogels of natural polymers, namely dextran and chitosan. These injectable polysaccharide-based hydrogels can be used for the delivery of chondrocytes or mesenchymal stromal cells, immobilizing them at the defect site via a non-invasive procedure. Alternatively, dextran-based hydrogels conjugated with hyaluronic acid and/or heparin can be used to attract cells from the subchondral bone or synovial fluid to restore joint homeostasis and stimulate cartilage regeneration. My foremost goal is the evaluation of functional repair in medium and large animal models, to bring this approach closer to human trials.
Additionally, the biomimetic and bioactive properties of dextran-based hydrogels can be tuned to assist on vessel development. As an adjacent project, I am exploring the vascularization potential of these hydrogels and their ability to covalently bind to collagen-rich tissues, to ultimately develop skin replacements for wound healing.
Publications of interest
- Moreira Teixeira LS, Leijten JCH, Wennink J, Ganguly A, de Boer J, Feijen J, van Blitterswijk CA, Dijkstra PJ, Karperien M. Cartilage repair enhancement by combination of an autologous growth factor source with a natural polymer-based injectable hydrogel. Accepted in Biomaterials.
- Moreira Teixeira LS, Bijl S, Pully VV, Otto C, Jin R, Feijen J, van Blitterswijk CA, Dijkstra PJ, Karperien M. Self-attaching and Cell-attracting In-Situ Forming Hydrogels of Natural Polymers for Cartilage Repair. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biomaterials.2012.01.001.
- Moreira Teixeira LS, Feijen J, van Blitterswijk CA, Dijkstra PJ, Karperien M. Enzyme-catalyzed crosslinkable hydrogels: emerging strategies for tissue engineering. Biomaterials. 2012 Feb;33(5):1281-90.
- Moreira Teixeira LS*, Georgi N*, Leijten JCH*, Wu L, Karperien M. Cartilage Tissue Engineering. Endocr Dev. 2011;21:102-15. (* Shared first co-authorship)
- Jin R*, Moreira Teixeira LS*, Dijkstra PJ, Zhong ZY, van Blitterswijk CA, Karperien M, Feijen J. Chondrogenesis in Injectable Enzymatically Crosslinked Heparin/Dextran Hydrogels. J Control Release. 2011; 30;152(1):186-95. (* Shared first co-authorship)
- Jin R, Moreira Teixeira LS, Dijkstra PJ, Karperien M, van Blitterswijk CA, Feijen J. Enzymatically-Crosslinked Injectable Hydrogels Based on Biomimetic Dextran-Hyaluronic Acid Conjugates for Cartilage Tissue Engineering. Biomaterials. 2010;31(11):3103-13.
- Jin R, Moreira Teixeira LS, Dijkstra PJ, Karperien M, van Blitterswijk CA , Feijen J. Synthesis and Characterization of Hyaluronic acid-PEG Hydrogels via Michael Addition: An Injectable Biomaterial for Cartilage Repair. Acta Biomaterialia. Acta Biomater. 2010;6(6):1968-77.
- Jin R*, Moreira Teixeira LS*, Dijkstra PJ, Zhong ZY, van Blitterswijk CA, Karperien M, Feijen J. Enzymatically Crosslinked Dextran-Tyramine Hydrogels as Injectable Scaffolds for Cartilage Tissue Engineering. Tissue Engineering: Part A. 2010;16(8):2429-40. (* Shared first co-authorship)
- Jin R, Moreira Teixeira LS, Dijkstra PJ, Karperien M, van Blitterswijk CA, Zhong ZY, Feijen J. Injectable chitosan-based hydrogels for cartilage tissue engineering. Biomaterials. 2009; 30(13):2544-51.