Biomedical and chemical engineering Professor Pranav Soman is part of a team that received a notable grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to study how a phytochemical found in citrus fruits affects the treatment of bone defects.
Led by the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill Adams School of Dentistry, with partnership from Syracuse University, the NIH award supports research into “organ-on-a-chip” technologies—microscopic models that mimic human physiology. Specifically, the team will create an innovative 3D model to study how a plant compound called hesperidin affects bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2).
Although BMP-2 is an FDA-approved growth factor used in craniofacial surgery, it is costly and can cause side effects like inflammation and bone cyst formation. Previous research has shown that hesperidin, when used in combination with BMP-2, can improve clinical outcomes, decrease inflammation and assist with healthy bone growth.
“Pranav’s innovative work at the intersection of organ-on-a-chip technology and bone regeneration has the potential to transform patient care and highlights the University’s leadership in biomedical research,” says Shikha Nangia, department chair of biomedical and chemical engineering.
Professor Soman brings his expertise in microfluidics, bioprinting and tissue engineering to the project. His research group will perform the design, printing, and characterization of microfluidic devices under this grant, along with ongoing data collection and analysis. Their 3D model will simulate the microenvironment of a human jawbone.
“This project is a perfect example of how mutually reinforcing positive feedback between new technology like organ-on-chip, new applications and scientific discovery is essential to drive biomedical science forward,” Soman explains.
Ultimately, the research team hopes to understand how hesperidin modulates the function of BMP-2 and how it affects osteocytes, the cells responsible for maintaining strong bones. Soman credits two of his former Ph.D. students, Anna-Blessing Merife and Arun Poudel, with gathering the critical preliminary data for this effort.
Soman will collaborate with researchers at UNC Adams School of Dentistry. UNC Associate Professor Patricia Miguez will serve as the principal investigator for this project.
