Highly functional and chemically defined hybrid supramolecular hydrogels for organoid culture and multi-technology bioprinting (HYBRIGEL)

Descripción del proyecto

Cultivar mejores tejidos para la investigación y la medicina

Es una nueva era para la ciencia biomédica. El proyecto HYBRIGEL, financiado por el Consejo Europeo de Investigación, pretende desarrollar hidrogeles de nueva generación diseñados para acercar los modelos de laboratorio a la biología humana real. Fabricado a partir de gelatina modificada, el equipo de HYBRIGEL proporciona un entorno totalmente definido y ajustable en que las células pueden crecer, interactuar y formar tejidos complejos. Su estabilidad y reproducibilidad lo hacen idóneo para su uso a gran escala, mientras que su compatibilidad con la bioimpresión avanzada abre nuevas posibilidades para crear estructuras realistas. El equipo de HYBRIGEL combina la precisión científica con la escalabilidad industrial. También promete acelerar el descubrimiento de nuevos fármacos, tratamientos y terapias regenerativas.

Objetivo

There is a growing need for reproducible, human-relevant in vitro models to advance biomedical research and drug discovery. Current 3D culture systems often fail to replicate the complexity of native tissues, contributing to poor clinical translation rates and limiting the development of animal-free testing platforms. While organoid technologies and biofabrication methods offer promising solutions, their progress is constrained by the lack of standardized, scalable biomaterials. Widely used matrices such as Matrigel, derived from laminin-rich tumor extracts, suffer from batch variability, undefined composition, and poor compatibility with advanced manufacturing techniques. Building on my ERC-funded VOLUME-BIO project, we have developed HYBRIGEL, a novel, chemically-defined hydrogel designed to address these limitations. HYBRIGEL is based on abundantly available gelatin, modified with reversible supramolecular interactions in addition to covalent crosslinking. This creates a dynamic, cell-responsive environment that promotes tissue remodeling, cell migration, and mechanotransduction—without requiring additional bioactive peptides. HYBRIGEL supports diverse cell types, including organoids, mesenchymal stem cells, vascular cells, and T cells. HYBRIGEL’s enhanced mechanical stability allows for the creation of complex, biomimetic structures through biofabrication techniques such as volumetric bioprinting. Its reproducibility, scalability, and manufacturing efficiency position it as a strong candidate for widespread adoption in both research and pharmaceutical applications. This project will advance HYBRIGEL towards commercial exploitation by expanding its validation across multiple organoid types and demonstrating scalable production processes. A comprehensive market analysis will inform the commercialization strategy, with an envisioned focus on licensing the technology to established industry partners.