Project description DEENESFRITPL A bright idea for bioprinting enhances feature resolution, processing time and flexibility Additive manufacturing, also called 3D printing, had its start in the 1980s. With the emergence of commercial 3D printers and compatible computer-aided design (CAD) tools, 3D printing revolutionised prototyping and small lot production. It also led to the creation of 3D bioprinting. 3D bioprinting uses cells and other biocompatible materials as 'inks' to create living structures that mimic the behaviours of tissues and organs. The EU-funded BRIGHTER project plans to advance current state-of-the-art 3D bioprinting with significant enhancements in temporal and spatial resolution by employing a unique top-down approach rather than the conventional bottom-up one. Its photo-crosslinking technology will also enable tuneable matrix stiffness, enhancing opportunities for research and business. Show the project objective Hide the project objective Objective Engineered tissues are key elements in both in vitro and in vivo applications, strongly impacting the academy, pharma and clinical sectors. Bioprinting is considered the most promising method to produce such engineered tissues. However, current bioprinting methods are severely limited by both insufficient speed and spatial resolution. Long printing times decrease cell viability, while poor spatial resolution fails to recreate the heterogeneous nature of native tissues. BRIGHTER will develop a new bioprinting technology able to produce tissue surrogates with high spatial resolution at high printing speed using an original top-down lithography approach, in contrast with current bottom-up, layer-by-layer bioprinting methods. BRIGHTER will combine high-speed light-sheet illumination and high-resolution digital photomasks to selectively photocrosslink cell-laden hydrogels in confined voxels and produce three-dimensional complex geometries. This process will enable the bioprinting of key anatomical microfeatures of tissue such as invaginations, evaginations or wavy morphologies. It will also incorporate hollow vascular structures while maintaining tissue mechanical integrity without the need of additional sacrificial material. As a remarkable feature, matrix crosslinking density can be fine-tuned using BRIGHTER’s approach, allowing the fabrication of cellular compartments requiring specific matrix stiffness such as stem cell niches. The proof-of-concept application will be bioprinting viable engineered skin tissues exploiting the key features of the BRIGHTER device: skin appendix (hair follicles, sweat glands), stem cell niches and a vascular network. The ultimate goal is to provide a superior alternative to state-or-the art 3D bioprinting with a disruptive bioprinting technology that would create new scientific and business opportunities. Fields of science medical and health sciencesmedical biotechnologycells technologiesstem cellsnatural sciencesmathematicspure mathematicsgeometry Keywords light-sheet lithography complex tissues biofabrication bioprinting skin models hydrogels bioink Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.2. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Future and Emerging Technologies (FET) Main Programme H2020-EU.1.2.1. - FET Open Topic(s) FETOPEN-01-2018-2019-2020 - FET-Open Challenging Current Thinking Call for proposal H2020-FETOPEN-2018-2020 See other projects for this call Sub call H2020-FETOPEN-2018-2019-2020-01 Funding Scheme RIA - Research and Innovation action Coordinator FUNDACIO INSTITUT DE BIOENGINYERIA DE CATALUNYA Net EU contribution € 750 106,25 Address Carrer baldiri reixac planta 2a 10-12 08028 Barcelona Spain See on map Region Este Cataluña Barcelona Activity type Research Organisations Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 811 774,25 Participants (5) Sort alphabetically Sort by Net EU contribution Expand all Collapse all Third-party Legal entity other than a subcontractor which is affiliated or legally linked to a participant. The entity carries out work under the conditions laid down in the Grant Agreement, supplies goods or provides services for the action, but did not sign the Grant Agreement. A third party abides by the rules applicable to its related participant under the Grant Agreement with regard to eligibility of costs and control of expenditure. UNIVERSITAT DE BARCELONA Participation ended Spain Net EU contribution € 0,00 Address Gran via de les corts catalanes 585 08007 Barcelona See on map Region Este Cataluña Barcelona Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 61 668,00 JOHANN WOLFGANG GOETHE-UNIVERSITAET FRANKFURT AM MAIN Germany Net EU contribution € 704 346,25 Address Theodor w adorno platz 1 60323 Frankfurt am main See on map Region Hessen Darmstadt Frankfurt am Main, Kreisfreie Stadt Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 704 346,25 MYCRONIC AB Sweden Net EU contribution € 945 960,00 Address Nytorpsvagen 9 183 03 Taby See on map Region Östra Sverige Stockholm Stockholms län Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 945 960,00 CELLENDES GMBH Germany Net EU contribution € 470 625,00 Address Gerhard kindler strasse 8 72770 Reutlingen See on map SME The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed. Yes Region Baden-Württemberg Tübingen Reutlingen Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 470 625,00 TECHNION - ISRAEL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY Israel Net EU contribution € 588 015,00 Address Senate building technion city 32000 Haifa See on map Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 588 015,00