Descripción del proyecto
Un cambio programable de forma para órganos bioimpresos
Durante el desarrollo, los órganos sufren transformaciones dinámicas en su forma, provocadas por factores como el crecimiento volumétrico del tejido, antes de alcanzar su forma, composición y función definitivas. Sin embargo, los métodos actuales de bioimpresión de órganos no permiten cambios morfogenéticos debido al uso de hidrogeles estáticos. El objetivo del proyecto morphoPRINT, financiado por el Consejo Europeo de Investigación, es crear una plataforma dinámica de hidrogel que pueda regular espacialmente el crecimiento volumétrico de tejidos bioimpresos a fin de favorecer el cambio programable de forma. En primer lugar, se crearán hidrogeles innovadores que pueden activarse espacialmente a demanda para favorecer o resistir al crecimiento volumétrico. Después, el equipo de morphoPRINT investigará los principios del cambio de forma con la plataforma y sus resultados se emplearán para diseñar tubos cardíacos bioimpresos que experimenten cambios de forma inspirados en el desarrollo.
Objetivo
During embryonic development, organs emerge through highly dynamic processes driven by complex shape-transformations that sculpt their final shape, composition, and function. Despite this, existing approaches to organ bioprinting employ static hydrogels that are not capable of supporting morphogenetic shape changes. Further, we lack an understanding of how key morphogenetic forces such as volumetric tissue growth can be leveraged to re-engineer fundamental tissue shape-morphing behaviours such as bending, buckling, bulging, or twisting. These are major barriers preventing the design of bioprinted tissues that undergo shape-transformations essential for their evolution into a functional final form. Recognising this, the goal of morphoPRINT is to develop a dynamic hydrogel platform that can spatially turn “on” or “off” volumetric growth in bioprinted tissues to direct 4D shape-morphing, and to use this platform to re-engineer morphogenetic shape changes that sculpt the tissue into a more mature form. To realise this goal, we propose ground-breaking technological advances to create hydrogels with independent networks of 1) supramolecular crosslinks that support volumetric growth and 2) photoresponsive covalent crosslinks that can be spatially activated to resist volumetric growth. We will use this platform to explore how spatial patterns of volumetric growth can drive tissue bending, buckling, and bulging, which will lead to a new conceptual understanding of the physical principles that drive tissue shape-morphing. We will then apply these principles towards the design of bioprinted heart tubes that undergo embryonic-like looping into an early 4-chamber structure. morphoPRINT will enable, for the first time, bioprinted organs that undergo programmable shape-morphing. This will set the stage for a new horizon in organ-engineering research focused on recapitulating physical aspects of morphogenesis rather than just the end-stage geometrical structure of the organ.
Ámbito científico
Palabras clave
Programa(s)
- HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme
Régimen de financiación
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC GrantsInstitución de acogida
H91 Galway
Irlanda