Taylor Norris casting collagen/CNF composite hydrogels to dry into films

Author: Taylor Norris | Major: Biomedical Engineering | Semester: Spring 2025

Hello! My name is Taylor Norris, and I am a junior Biomedical Engineering student with a passion for research. In the Spring of 2025, I worked with Dr. Younghye Song in our department to perform foundational work for advancements in peripheral nerve repair. Our goal is to create a rehydratable collagen and cellulose nanofiber (CNF) composite film to wrap and repair damaged peripheral nerves. After graduating with my bachelor’s degree, I plan to pursue my master’s in Biomedical Engineering here at the University of Arkansas, and then work in industry research.

In my research, we work with collagen- a commonly used material in peripheral nerve injury repair and current grafting technologies. While collagen plays a key role in nerve regeneration by mimicking the natural extracellular matrix for neurons to grow, it often lacks the mechanical properties suitable for implantation and suturing in order to provide those key biological benefits. With a CNF addition that improves tensile strength, we aim to create a rehydratable film that can be stored long-term and combines the biocompatibility of collagen with enhanced mechanical properties of CNF. Our design addresses the need for a stronger and more accessible material for nerve repair films, offering a sustainable and clinically relevant solution compared to autografts and current xenografts.

My lab work began my freshman year in the Honors Research Experience course, taught by Dr. Galbraith in the First Year Engineering program. In this class, I was able to connect with Dr. Jin-Woo Kim from the Bio/Nano Technology Group. My work in Dr. Kim’s lab involved creating a composite cell scaffold for the heart, using polycaprolactone and cellulose nanocrystals (CNC). It is my experience in this lab that set me on the path to work with Dr. Song in the Biomedical Engineering department. Dr. Song was a guest speaker in my department’s introduction course, and I was immediately drawn to her lab because of her clear passion for research and genuine support for her students. While I did not directly choose my project topic, I knew that I wanted to continue work in biological research that could one day benefit the advancement of treatments for patients. After joining, I had an immediate sense of belonging and purpose in this lab, which confirmed for me that it was where I was meant to be to grow as a researcher and a person.

Since starting in her lab in the Spring of 2024, I have gained a deeper understanding of both my research topic and myself. First and foremost, I learned that optimization projects are time-consuming, and that slow progress is still progress. It is not just “trial-and-error,” even though it definitely feels like it at times. Optimization involves finding the best solution by testing many combinations and methodically altering variables. There are so many factors that are important to the end goal, and can all have the potential to influence each other. My research heavily involves material sciences, and how materials and biological systems interact- and this to me is the heart of biomedical engineering. I think the hardest part of this project has been that while we have an idea of what we want to create, sometimes we have to define success as we work through the process. Not only are we trying to hit a target, but we are building it at the same time. And after every iteration or change to how we make our films, we need to take a step back and analyze our results to think of the best approach for the next step. Throughout this whole process, I have learned that I am a resilient learner and that even through challenges and experiments that feel like I failed, my desire to understand how things work drives me forward. Research extends far beyond the lab bench; it is about asking meaningful questions, learning how to think and work with others, and making an impact in science without losing sight that you entered the field to help others.

This project has not been without its difficulties, but they have pushed me to adapt, think creatively, and be more comfortable with uncertainty. I sometimes have to tell myself that the fact that there is so much we do not understand yet proves that this work is worth doing. The greatest challenges I have faced so far in my research are working with CNF, a material that is relatively new to a biomedical application, and creating reproducible samples. Early on, I was often overwhelmed by the amount of potential variables we needed to test- CNF concentrations, drying methods, rehydrating methods, how to make films thicker, mechanical testing, cell viability, etc. My approach usually included making samples, waiting for them to dry, and observing them before and after hydrating, and using confocal reflectance microscopy. This process of refinement, especially when results were sometimes not reproducible, was frustrating. But I have learned to be patient with the process and see failure as an opportunity to learn. Establishing a reliable protocol is essential for future progress, and I was motivated by the idea that I could be the one to help define it. Dr. Song has been incredibly supportive throughout this whole process, not only academically and financially, but emotionally and professionally. She has helped me keep my direction clear and brainstormed ideas with me, and strengthened my presentation skills during weekly lab meetings. The weekly reports I send her also help me document my progress and adapt my approach for how to tackle the current challenges we are facing. I would also like to thank my graduate student who I work with, Patrick Kuczwara, for his unwavering support, as well as fellow undergrads Lillian Hutchinson and Claire George- I could not do any of this alone. In the following year, I plan on attending my first BMES conference to present a poster, graduate with my bachelor’s degree, and continue my research in a master’s program here at the University of Arkansas.