This innovative new group led by Dr Mukherjee focuses on Women’s health, specifically in addressing the inadequacies in biomaterials for reconstructive surgery for disorders such as pelvic organ prolapse (POP). Arising primarily from vaginal birth injury, pelvic floor disorders affect millions of women worldwide, yet lack an effective treatment. In partnership with scientists, engineers and clinicians, the team has a keen interest in regenerative tissue engineering and translating new strategies to address the limitations in pelvic reconstructive surgery and alleviation of birth trauma.

The team undertakes a multi-disciplinary approach to repair tissues that have been damaged through childbirth incorporating material science, nanotechnology, stem cell biology and immunology. Current research centres on using solution electrospinning, 3D Printing, Melt electro writing and hydrogel formulations in the construction of degradable tissue-engineered surgical constructs. To this end, we utilise small and large pre-clinical model to determine host foreign body response and understand critical pathways that determine fate of implants. Furthermore, the group is investigating how maternal birth injury leads to POP, often decades after the initial trauma and employs injectable hydrogels for prevention of chronic pelvic floor disorder following traumatic birth injuries.

Research Projects

DESIGN optimisation and engineering of polymer meshes, hydrogels, bioinks and coatings

TISSUE engineering with adult stem cells and biomaterials to determine biocompatibility and foreign body response

TREATMENT of Chronic POP using degradable cell-based nanofiber and 3D printed Meshes in pre-clinical models

PREVENTION of POP by applying hydrogels as a therapeutic for traumatic birth injury to prevent prolapse of the pelvic floor

UNDERSTAND the changes that occur within the pelvic floor after traumatic birth injury using biospectroscopy

Tackling POP utilising nanotechnology and 3D cellular bioprinting.

Dr Shayanti Mukherjee’s research program aims to advance women’s urogynaecological health using nanotechnology and 3D cellular bioprinting and help address unmet medical needs of up to 50 percent of childbearing women worldwide. Dr Mukherjee was Johnson & Johnson’s 2021 WiSTEM²D Scholars Award Engineering Winner.

Research Group

• Dr Saeedeh Darzi, Research Scientist
• Dr Mina Bayattork, Postdoctoral Scientist
• Dr Kallyanashis Paul, Postdoctoral Scientist
• Dr David Hennes, PhD Student
• Mathew Lehrner, PhD Student
• Nandini Pandya, Honours Student

Selected publications

• Paul, K.;  Darzi, S.;  McPhee, G.;  Del Borgo, M. P.;  Werkmeister, J. A.;  Gargett, C. E.; Mukherjee, S (2019). 3D bioprinted endometrial stem cells on melt electrospun poly epsilon-caprolactone mesh for pelvic floor application promote anti-inflammatory responses in mice. Acta Biomater 2019, 97, 162-176.

• Paul, K.;  Darzi, S.;  Del Borgo, M. P.;  Cousins, F. L.;  Werkmeister, J. A.;  Gargett, C. E.; Mukherjee, S. (2021), Vaginal delivery of tissue engineered endometrial mesenchymal stem/stromal cells in an aloe vera-alginate hydrogel alleviates maternal simulated birth injury. Applied Materials Today 2021, 22, 100890.

• Mukherjee, S.;  Darzi, S.;  Rosamilia, A.;  Kadam, V.;  Truong, Y.;  Werkmeister, J. A.; Gargett, C. E. (2019), Blended Nanostructured Degradable Mesh with Endometrial Mesenchymal Stem Cells Promotes Tissue Integration and Anti-Inflammatory Response in Vivo for Pelvic Floor Application. Biomacromolecules 2019, 20 (1), 454-468.

• Emmerson, S.;  Mukherjee, S.;  Melendez-Munoz, J.;  Cousins, F.;  Edwards, S. L.;  Karjalainen, P.;  Ng, M.;  Tan, K. S.;  Darzi, S.;  Bhakoo, K.;  Rosamilia, A.;  Werkmeister, J. A.; Gargett, C. E. (2019), Composite mesh design for delivery of autologous mesenchymal stem cells influences mesh integration, exposure and biocompatibility in an ovine model of pelvic organ prolapse. Biomaterials 2019, 225, 119495.

• Mukherjee, S.*;  Darzi, S.*;  Paul, K.;  Cousins, F. L.;  Werkmeister, J. A.; Gargett, C. E. (2020), Electrospun Nanofiber Meshes With Endometrial MSCs Modulate Foreign Body Response by Increased Angiogenesis, Matrix Synthesis, and Anti-Inflammatory Gene Expression in Mice: Implication in Pelvic Floor. Front Pharmacol 2020, 11 (353), 353. (* Equal Author)

• Aghaei-Ghareh-Bolagh, B.*;  Mukherjee, S.*;  Lockley, K. M.;  Mithieux, S. M.;  Wang, Z.;  Emmerson, S.;  Darzi, S.;  Gargett, C. E.; Weiss, A. S. (2020), A novel tropoelastin-based resorbable surgical mesh for pelvic organ prolapse repair. Mater Today Bio 2020, 8, 100081. (* Equal Author)

• Parkinson, L. A.*;  Karjalainen, P. K.*;  Mukherjee, S.*;  Papageorgiou, A. W.;  Kulkarni, M.;  Arkwright, J. W.;  Young, N.;  Werkmeister, J. A.;  Davies-Tuck, M.;  Gargett, C. E.; Rosamilia, A. (2022), Vaginal pressure sensor measurement during maximal voluntary pelvic floor contraction correlates with vaginal birth and pelvic organ prolapse—A pilot study. Neurourology and Urodynamics 2022, 41 (2), 592-600. (* Equal Author)

• Bahremandi-Toloue, E.;  Mohammadalizadeh, Z.;  Mukherjee, S.*; Karbasi, S.* (2021), Incorporation of inorganic bioceramics into electrospun scaffolds for tissue engineering applications: A review. Ceramics International 2021. (* Equal Author)