Kyle Lampe

Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering, Chemical Engineering

Primary Location

P.O. Box 400741, 102 Engineers' Way
202 Wilsdorf Hall
Charlottesville, VA 22904

Primary Phone Number

434.982.6921

Fax Number

434.982.5358

[email protected]

Website

https://engineering.virginia.edu/lampe-biomaterials-group

Bio & Overview

Neural regeneration within the central nervous system (CNS) is a critical unmet challenge as CNS disorders continue to be the leading cause of disability nationwide. Engineers can provide a unique perspective in the design and development of materials for human health to help effectively translate them to the clinic. We propose an innovative combination of biomaterial-cell interactions drawing on aspects of engineering, stem cell biology, and neuroscience with a unifying theme of functional neural tissue engineering. Our overarching goal is to develop a new, integrated approach in building material systems that are both cell-instructive and cell-responsive, creating a dynamic feedback loop between a cell and its engineered microenvironment. Promising opportunities for discovery exist at the intersection of biomaterials, stem cells, and reactive oxygen species, and we anticipate combining them to cut a unique path as neural engineers. New material platforms for neural tissues that can direct neural tissue maturation and function. We are designing hydrogel materials using both synthetic polymer and recombinant protein strategies to recapitulate the neural stem cell niche and induce dynamic cell-material interactions. The problem of axon regeneration is far from being solved, but axons can extend over long distances in vitro and in vivo by using innovative combinations of tunable materials and physical architecture. While growth is a critical step in neural regeneration, a therapy is only obtained when these axon projections function correctly in signal transmission. We encapsulate both neurons and oligodendrocytes, the cells responsible for myelination of functional axons, and control the growth of each cell type in a tunable 3D environment to begin to recapitulate functional interactions. Localized and controlled delivery of factors important to cell survival and function. Delivery of protein therapeutics has been a target for neural regeneration in a host of CNS diseases and injuries including Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, spinal cord injury, and stroke, but their targeted, sustained delivery is a challenge to translational medicine due to fast clearance from the target site or degradation within a couple hours of delivery. We incorporate methods for spatial and temporal control of small molecule and large protein delivery via both passive diffusion and active, cell-controlled mechanisms. Regulating cellular reduction/oxidation to influence stem cell survival, self-renewal, and differentiation in a tissue-like environment. We are bringing an engineer's perspective to questions of redox biology. While disregulation of native reactive oxygen species (ROS)-scavenging enzymes within the cell is linked to a variety of disorders including Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease, it is increasingly recognized that redox regulation within a cell is a critical signaling mechanism for cellular processes including survival, proliferation, differentiation, and cell motility. In a controlled hydrogel culture system we are harnessing the power of degradable materials to elucidate novel understandings of oxidant and antioxidant effects of biomaterials on cells, to manipulate the redox balance of encapsulated cells, and to positively bias cell fate. We hope that by modulating ROS insults in vivo and providing a permissive environment for transplanted cells by using a ROS-scavenging material, we may decrease secondary injury and greatly improve the efficacy of transplant cell therapy.

Academic Information

Department: Chemical Engineering

Academic Title: Assistant Professor

Primary Education

BS, Chemical Engineering, Missouri University of Science and Technology, 2004
PhD, Chemical Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder, 2009
Postdoc, Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, 2013

Other Appointments

Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering
Assistant Professor, Neuroscience

Other Affiliations

ENG
Biomedical Engineering
Biomedical Engineering
Chemical Engineering
BIMS
Brain Immunology and Glia Center
Neuroscience Graduate Program

Research Interests

Neural tissue engineering, biomaterials, drug delivery, redox regulation of stem cell fate, engineering cell-interactive microenvironments

Research Disciplines

Biotechnology
Development, Stem Cells & Regeneration
Neuroimmunology
Neuroscience

Research Opportunities

Biotechnology
Chemistry and Physics of Living Systems
Development, Stem Cells & Regeneration
Neuroscience

PhD Programs

Biomedical Engineering
Neuroscience

Selected Publications

2023

Duti, I. J., Florian, J. R., Kittel, A. R., Amelung, C. D., Gray, V. P., Lampe, K. J., & Letteri, R. A. (2023). Peptide Stereocomplexation Orchestrates Supramolecular Assembly of Hydrogel Biomaterials. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY. doi:10.1021/jacs.3c04872

2022

Ghanta, R. K., Pugazenthi, A., Zhao, Y., Sylvester, C., Wall, M. J., Mazur, R. A., . . . Lampe, K. J. (2022). Influence of Supraphysiologic Biomaterial Stiffness on Ventricular Mechanics and Infarct Reinforcement. ACTA BIOMATERIALIA, 149, 30-39. doi:10.1016/j.actbio.2022.07.006

Mazur, R. A., Yokosawa, R., VandeVord, P. J., & Lampe, K. J. (2022). The need for tissue-engineered models to facilitate the study of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells in traumatic brain injury and repair. CURRENT OPINION IN BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING, 22. doi:10.1016/j.cobme.2022.100378

2021

Gray, V. P. A., Amelung, C. D. J., Duti, I. J., Laudermilch, E. G., Letteri, R. A., & Lampe, K. J. (2022). Biomaterials via peptide assembly: Design, characterization, and application in tissue engineering. ACTA BIOMATERIALIA, 140, 43-75. doi:10.1016/j.actbio.2021.10.030

2020

Unal, D. B., Caliari, S. R., & Lampe, K. J. (2020). 3D Hyaluronic Acid Hydrogels for Modeling Oligodendrocyte Progenitor Cell Behavior as a Function of Matrix Stiffness. BIOMACROMOLECULES, 21(12), 4962-4971. doi:10.1021/acs.biomac.0c01164

Meco, E., Zheng, W. S., Sharma, A. H., & Lampe, K. J. (2020). Guiding Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cell Maturation With Urokinase Plasminogen Activator-Degradable Elastin-like Protein Hydrogels. BIOMACROMOLECULES, 21(12), 4724-4736. doi:10.1021/acs.biomac.0c00828

2019

Unal, D. B., Caliari, S. R., & Lampe, K. J. (2019). Engineering biomaterial microenvironments to promote myelination in the central nervous system. BRAIN RESEARCH BULLETIN, 152, 159-174. doi:10.1016/j.brainresbull.2019.07.013

Tang, J. D., Roloson, E. B., Amelung, C. D., & Lampe, K. J. (2019). Rapidly Assembling Pentapeptides for Injectable Delivery (RAPID) Hydrogels as Cytoprotective Cell Carriers. ACS BIOMATERIALS SCIENCE & ENGINEERING, 5(5), 2117-2121. doi:10.1021/acsbiomaterials.9b00389

Meco, E., & Lampe, K. J. (2019). Impact of Elastin-like Protein Temperature Transition on PEG-ELP Hybrid Hydrogel Properties. BIOMACROMOLECULES, 20(5), 1914-1925. doi:10.1021/acs.biomac.9b00113

Tang, J. D., Mura, C., & Lampe, K. J. (2019). Stimuli-Responsive, Pentapeptide, Nanofiber Hydrogel for Tissue Engineering. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY, 141(12), 4886-4899. doi:10.1021/jacs.8b13363

Madl, C. M., LeSavage, B. L., Dewi, R. E., Lampe, K. J., & Heilshorn, S. C. (2019). Matrix Remodeling Enhances the Differentiation Capacity of Neural Progenitor Cells in 3D Hydrogels. ADVANCED SCIENCE, 6(4). doi:10.1002/advs.201801716

Tang, J., Mura, C., & Lampe, K. (2019). A stimuli-responsive, pentapeptide, nanofiber hydrogel for tissue engineering. doi:10.1101/565317

2018

Tang, J. D., Caliari, S. R., & Lampe, K. J. (2018). Temperature-Dependent Complex Coacervation of Engineered Elastin-like Polypeptide and Hyaluronic Acid Polyelectrolytes. BIOMACROMOLECULES, 19(10), 3925-3935. doi:10.1021/acs.biomac.8b00837

Pinezich, M. R., Russell, L. N., Murphy, N. P., & Lampe, K. J. (2018). Encapsulated oligodendrocyte precursor cell fate is dependent on PDGF-AA release kinetics in a 3D microparticle-hydrogel drug delivery system. JOURNAL OF BIOMEDICAL MATERIALS RESEARCH PART A, 106(9), 2402-2411. doi:10.1002/jbm.a.36432

Tang, J. D., & Lampe, K. J. (2018). From de novo peptides to native proteins: advancements in biomaterial scaffolds for acute ischemic stroke repair. BIOMEDICAL MATERIALS, 13(3). doi:10.1088/1748-605X/aaa4c3

Meco, E., & Lampe, K. J. (2018). Microscale Architecture in Biomaterial Scaffolds for Spatial Control of Neural Cell Behavior. FRONTIERS IN MATERIALS, 5. doi:10.3389/fmats.2018.00002

2017

Madl, C. M., LeSavage, B. L., Dewi, R. E., Dinh, C. B., Stowers, R. S., Khariton, M., . . . Heilshorn, S. C. (2017). Maintenance of neural progenitor cell stemness in 3D hydrogels requires matrix remodelling. NATURE MATERIALS, 16(12), 1233-+. doi:10.1038/NMAT5020

Russell, L. N., & Lampe, K. J. (2017). Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cell Viability, Proliferation, and Morphology is Dependent on Mesh Size and Storage Modulus in 3D Poly(ethylene glycol)-Based Hydrogels. ACS BIOMATERIALS SCIENCE & ENGINEERING, 3(12), 3459-3468. doi:10.1021/acsbiomaterials.7b00374

Murphy, N. P., & Lampe, K. J. (2018). Fabricating PLGA microparticles with high loads of the small molecule antioxidant N-acetylcysteine that rescue oligodendrocyte progenitor cells from oxidative stress. BIOTECHNOLOGY AND BIOENGINEERING, 115(1), 246-256. doi:10.1002/bit.26443

2016

Tang, J. D., McAnany, C. E., Mura, C., & Lampe, K. J. (2016). Toward a Designable Extracellular Matrix: Molecular Dynamics Simulations of an Engineered Laminin-Mimetic, Elastin-Like Fusion Protein. BIOMACROMOLECULES, 17(10), 3222-3233. doi:10.1021/acs.biomac.6b00951

Russell, L. N., & Lampe, K. J. (2015). Engineering Biomaterials to Influence Oligodendroglial Growth, Maturation, and Myelin Production. CELLS TISSUES ORGANS, 202(1-2), 85-101. doi:10.1159/000446645

2015

Murphy, N. P., & Lampe, K. J. (2015). Mimicking biological phenomena in hydrogel-based biomaterials to promote dynamic cellular responses. JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY B, 3(40), 7867-7880. doi:10.1039/c5tb01045d

2011

Aurand, E. R., Lampe, K. J., & Bjugstad, K. B. (2012). Defining and designing polymers and hydrogels for neural tissue engineering. NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH, 72(3), 199-213. doi:10.1016/j.neures.2011.12.005

Lampe, K. J., Kern, D. S., Mahoney, M. J., & Bjugstad, K. B. (2011). The administration of BDNF and GDNF to the brain via PLGA microparticles patterned within a degradable PEG-based hydrogel: Protein distribution and the glial response. JOURNAL OF BIOMEDICAL MATERIALS RESEARCH PART A, 96A(3), 595-607. doi:10.1002/jbm.a.33011

2010

Lampe, K. J., Mooney, R. G., Bjugstad, K. B., & Mahoney, M. J. (2010). Effect of macromer weight percent on neural cell growth in 2D and 3D nondegradable PEG hydrogel culture. JOURNAL OF BIOMEDICAL MATERIALS RESEARCH PART A, 94A(4), 1162-1171. doi:10.1002/jbm.a.32787

Lampe, K. J., Bjugstad, K. B., & Mahoney, M. J. (2010). Impact of Degradable Macromer Content in a Poly(Ethylene Glycol) Hydrogel on Neural Cell Metabolic Activity, Redox State, Proliferation, and Differentiation. TISSUE ENGINEERING PART A, 16(6), 1857-1866. doi:10.1089/ten.tea.2009.0509