Tony Pennington
  1. Current research activities

    2. We have had an active in-vivo tissue engineering programme for approximately 5 years. This is centred around a model in which a blood vessel pedicle is inserted into a chamber with a matrix and a source of cells. Spontaneous angiogenesis occurs from the vascular pedicle generating vascularized tissue, the nature of which is determined by the nature of the matrix and the cells. We started in a rat model and have since developed this into the mouse and the pig. Our primary objective is the development of an implantable device to generate fat tissue for soft tissue reconstruction, especially breast reconstruction following breast cancer. We have used a range of matrices including synthetic matrices (particularly PGLA) and biological matrices (predominantly Matrigel and similar materials) We have successfully implanted stem cells and a range of precursor cells into the chamber. We have facilities for animal operating as well as tissue processing and special expertise in quantitative tissue analysis. As well as adipose tissue we also have programmes in islet cell (for diabetes) and liver models. We collaborate with the Chemical Engineering Department of Melbourne University in this work.

  2. Keywords

    3. Reconstructive Microsurgery, Adipogenesis, Angiogesis, Chamber, Stem Cells, Matrix biology.

  3. End-user applications
    • Breast Reconstruction (Surgery)
    • Soft tissue reconstruction (Surgery)
    • Diabetes
    • Other Transplantation

  4. Key publications

    5. I. Cronin KJ. Messina A. Knight KR. Cooper-White JJ. Stevens GW. Penington AJ. Morrison WA. New murine model of spontaneous autologous tissue engineering, combining an arteriovenous pedicle with matrix materials. [Journal Article] Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery. 113(1):260-9, 2004 Jan.
    II. Hofer SO. Knight KM. Cooper-White JJ. O'Connor AJ. Perera JM. Romeo-Meeuw R. Penington AJ. Knight KR. Morrison WA. Messina A. Increasing the volume of vascularized tissue formation in engineered constructs: an experimental study in rats. [Journal Article] Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery. 111(3):1186-92; discussion 1193-4, 2003 Mar.
    III. Cassell OC. Morrison WA. Messina A. Penington AJ. Thompson EW. Stevens GW. Perera JM. Kleinman HK. Hurley JV. Romeo R. Knight KR. The influence of extracellular matrix on the generation of vascularized, engineered, transplantable tissue. [Journal Article] Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. 944:429-42, 2001 Nov
    IV. Mian RA. Knight KR. Penington AJ. Hurley JV. Messina A. Romeo R. Morrison WA. Stimulating effect of an arteriovenous shunt on the in vivo growth of isografted fibroblasts: a preliminary report. [Journal Article] Tissue Engineering. 7(1):73-80, 2001 Feb.
    V. Mian R. Morrison WA. Hurley JV. Penington AJ. Romeo R. Tanaka Y. Knight KR. Formation of new tissue from an arteriovenous loop in the absence of added extracellular matrix. [Journal Article] Tissue Engineering. 6(6):595-603, 2000 Dec

  5. Outreach activities

    6. None as Yet.

  6. Key organisation membership

    7. None as Yet

  7. Early career researcher?

    8. No.

  8. Young investigator?

    9. No.

  9. Skills and expertise

    •  Animal models
    • Cell Culture
    • Histopathology
    • Clinical interface
    • Angiogenesis

  10. Specialist equipment and infrastructure

    • Animal operating and housing facilities
    • Histopathology laboratories
    • Cell culture facilities

© 2004

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