Project description
Transforming the future of tissue repair
As the world’s population ages, the need for effective tissue repair solutions has become increasingly urgent. Regenerative medicine has shown promise in repairing damaged tissues, but long-term studies have revealed issues with degeneration and lack of integration with surrounding tissues. These issues are caused by insufficient cell-material interactions, as well as the loss of cell potency when cultured in two-dimensional substrates. Stem cells offer a promising alternative, but better control over cell-material interactions is necessary to maintain tissue-engineered constructs in the long term. Funded by the European Research Council, the CELL HYBRIDGE project aims to address these challenges by engineering constructs that actively control stem cell quiescence, proliferation and differentiation in a biomimetic design inspired by the mesenchymal stem cell niche.
Objective
Aging worldwide population demands new solutions to permanently restore damaged tissues, thus reducing healthcare costs. Regenerative medicine offers alternative therapies for tissue repair. Although first clinical trials revealed excellent initial response after implantation of these engineered tissues, long-term follow-ups demonstrated that degeneration and lack of integration with the surrounding tissues occur. Causes are related to insufficient cell-material interactions and loss of cell potency when cultured in two-dimensional substrates, among others.
Stem cells are a promising alternative due to their differentiation potential into multiple lineages. Yet, better control over cell-material interactions is necessary to maintain tissue engineered constructs in time. It is crucial to control stem cell quiescence, proliferation and differentiation in three-dimensional scaffolds while maintaining cells viable in situ. Stem cell activity is controlled by a complex cascade of signals called “niche”, where the extra-cellular matrix (ECM) surrounding the cells play a major role. Designing scaffolds inspired by this cellular niche and its ECM may lead to engineered tissues with instructive properties characterized by enhanced homeostasis, stability and integration with the surrounding milieu.
This research proposal aims at engineering constructs where scaffolds work as stem cell delivery systems actively controlling cell quiescence, proliferation, and differentiation. This challenge will be approached through a biomimetic design inspired by the mesenchymal stem cell niche. Three different scaffolds will be combined to achieve this purpose: (i) a scaffold designed to maintain cell quiescence; (ii) a scaffold designed to promote cell proliferation; and (iii) a scaffold designed to control cell differentiation. To prove the design criteria the evaluation of stem cell quiescence, proliferation, and differentiation will be assessed for musculoskeletal regenerative therapies.
Fields of science
Programme(s)
Topic(s)
Funding Scheme
ERC-STG - Starting GrantHost institution
6200 MD Maastricht
Netherlands