Regenerative Medicine & Wound Healing

The transition from a blood clot to functional tissue is a complex biological handoff that often results in suboptimal healing or chronic scarring. This research area explores how the structural and mechanical properties of the initial wound environment, specifically the fibrin matrix, dictate long-term healing outcomes. By studying the differences between neonatal and adult healing processes, the Brown Lab aims to “reprogram” adult wounds to heal with the regenerative efficiency of a newborn.

Moiseiwitsch, N. A., Pandit, S., Zwennes, N., Nellenbach, K., Sheridan, A., LeGrand, J., Chee, E., Ozawa, S., Troan, B., Aw, W. Y., Polacheck, W., Haider, M. A., & Brown, A. C. (2025a). Colloidal-fibrillar composite gels demonstrate structural reinforcement, secondary fibrillar alignment, and improved vascular healing outcomes. Communications Engineering, 4(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44172-025-00400-x

A major area of our research is mechanotransduction, the study of how cells sense and respond to the physical “stiffness” of their environment. Our group has developed pre-polymerized fibrin-based nanoparticles (FBNs), which may be used as particles or in a MAP-like scaffold to achieve hemostasis and improve wound healing outcomes. The Brown lab recently introduced colloidal-fibrillar composite gels (selected as a Communications Engineering Editor’s Choice in 2025), which allow us to create highly tunable environments that can direct cell migration and adhesion, providing the fundamental tools necessary to build the next generation of “smart” bandages and regenerative implants.