Project description
Engineered niches for stem cell growth
Cells respond to the shape, stiffness and chemical signals of their surroundings, making the local microenvironment crucial for growth and differentiation. In regenerative medicine, scientists use biomaterials to recreate these conditions, but designing effective artificial tissues is often slow and complex. The ERC-funded RODIN project proposes to engineer smart microscopic films that fold into tiny pockets, where stem cells can actively reshape their own environment. Made from human proteins or plant-derived nanocellulose, some pockets will also contain engineered microbes that release helpful signals. Using artificial intelligence and computer modelling, researchers will identify the best designs for producing functional tissues for repair, disease testing and advanced biofabrication applications.
Objective
Geometrical, mechanical, and biochemical signals are master regulators of differentiation and other cellular processes. Biomaterials have been used to create artificial 3D niches recapitulating such favourable cues, traditionally optimized through progressive and laborious design-build-test-learn cycles. In native environments, however, cells dynamically interact and modify their surroundings, engaging in feedback loops that alter their phenotype and trigger collective effects. Based on such principles, and leveraged by a unique synergy between biomaterials, synthetic biology, and computer modelling, RODIN proposes a transformative approach by engineering biomaterial units based on flexible, micro-sized films that allow stem cells to autonomously sculpt their environments. These hybrid structures (pockets), formed through crumpling or origami-like folding, will create diverse internal milieus for cells to freely explore. We hypothesise that the microenvironment in the pockets can be moulded for a targeted cell phenotype based on local material properties and biochemical differentiation factors. To test this, films will be made from bioactive human-derived proteins or nanocellulose. In the latter, engineered microbes programmed to secrete specific factors will be embedded within the films to create a living platform able to guide stem cells toward osteogenic differentiation. Cell behaviour will be correlated with local structural data from the pockets and analysed using deep learning to identify favourable geometrical and structural descriptors that could help to engineer bioactive improbable synthetic niches. Computer modelling will identify optimal conditions for producing high-quality microtissues, with applications in regenerative medicine and pre-clinical disease modelling. These insights will also assist in scaling tissue engineering through assembly-based biofabrication techniques to generate hierarchical living constructs with unprecedent biological features.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences biological sciences synthetic biology
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins
- medical and health sciences medical biotechnology tissue engineering
- medical and health sciences medical biotechnology cells technologies stem cells
- natural sciences computer and information sciences artificial intelligence machine learning deep learning
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC-SYG - HORIZON ERC Synergy Grants
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2025-SyG
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
3810-193 Aveiro
Portugal
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.