Mark Van Dyke, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Dr. Mark Van Dyke was born and raised in Michigan. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in chemistry from Central Michigan University in 1988. After several years as a Chemist for the Dow Chemical Company and the Dow Corning Corporation, he attended graduate school at the University of Cincinnati and obtained a Ph.D. in Materials Science from the Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering in 1998.

SYNOPSIS OF AREA OF INTEREST: Novel biomaterials that mimic the extracellular matrix (ECM); biomaterials derived from ECM; interactions between somatic cells, as well as adult stem cells

DETAILED AREA OF INTEREST: Biomaterials are an essential tool in regenerative medicine that provide the basis for growing and delivering cells, developing functional tissues, and engineering whole organs. At the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, we focus on replicating the native cellular environment to facilitate normal development of engineered tissues and organs. We emphasize the use of "intelligent" scaffolds that are able to interact with the cells of interest and direct the development of vascularized, innervated, functional tissues. Research conducted by Mark Van Dyke, Ph.D., makes use of naturally-derived structural proteins for biomaterials development. Using proteins such as collagen and keratin, Dr. Van Dyke creates matrices and scaffolds used for the regeneration of several tissue types. In the keratin system, proteins are purified from end-cut human hair and demonstrate several remarkable characteristics. First, keratins are highly biocompatible because they come from human tissue. Purified samples contain no cellular material so they do not elicit an immune response between individual donors. Second, certain keratins have an incredible ability for molecular self-assembly that results in the spontaneous formation of network structures. Self-assembly occurs on the nanometer scale and builds to the micron scale, resulting in homogenous, porous architectures that are conducive to growing tissues. Third, keratin proteins contain cellular-binding motifs that mimic the sites of cell attachment found in the native extracellular matrix. By leveraging these unique characteristics, we are creating inexpensive biomaterials for a host of biomedical applications. Our current research programs are focused on the use of keratin biomaterials for skin regeneration in acute full thickness wounds such as burns, scaffolds for guided nerve regeneration, and bone graft substitutes for healing contaminated sites of injury. Collaborating departments include Orthopaedic Surgery, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Molecular Medicine, and Biomedical Engineering.

PUBLICATIONS:

Stitzel J, Liu J, Lee SJ, Komura M, Berry J, Soker S, Lim G, Van Dyke M, Czerw R, Yoo JJ, Atala A. Controlled fabrication of a biological vascular substitute. Biomaterials. 2006 Mar;27(7):1088-94. Epub 2005 Aug 29.

Lee, SJ and Van Dyke ME. Tissue engineering scaffolds from self-assembled human hair keratins. Polym Prep 2005;46(1):112.

Van Dyke ME and Siller-Jackson AJ. Development of keratin coatings for osteoinduction on titanium. Abst Papers Amer Chem Soc 2002;224(2):U504.

Van Dyke ME and Nanney LB. Elastomeric biomaterials from human hair keratins as bioactive wound dressings. Abst Papers Amer Chem Soc 2002;224(1):U36.

Van Dyke ME. Human hair keratins: Structural biomolecules for use in biomaterials development. Polym Prep 2002;43(2):701.