Novel vascular-like BBB-on-a-chip

Project Information

NOVACHIP

Grant agreement ID: 840626

DOI

10.3030/840626

Project closed

EC signature date 7 October 2019

Start date 1 September 2021

End date 30 September 2023

Funded under

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)

Total cost

€ 149 951,25

EU contribution

€ 149 951,00

Coordinated by

THE UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM
United Kingdom

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - NOVACHIP (Novel vascular-like BBB-on-a-chip)

Reporting period: 2021-09-01 to 2023-09-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

There is a great need to develop safer and more biologically relevant models for drug screening, as it is increasingly evident that both in vitro and in vivo models being used to test drugs have a limited capacity to predict the pathophysiology of human disease, personalized response, and off-target drug toxicity. This ERC PoC proposal aimed to develop a scalable 3D Blood-Brain-Barrier in vitro model (BBB-on-a-chip) able to provide a higher level of biological relevance than the current in vitro models, by using a simple fabrication process that combines bioprinting, and co-assembly of graphene oxide (GO) dispersions with elastin-like protein (ELP) polymers.
In the project, we have successfully developed functional fluidic chips by combining 3D printing, self-assembly and hydrogel formation, integrating GO-ELP capillary-like structures. The fluidic chips enabled the growth of endothelial cells towards the fabrication of the vascular structures, but the versatility of the fabrication process also enabled the use of the fluidic devices towards other applications. For example, new opportunities emerged testing bacterial biofilms and their treatment using antibiotics. Furthermore, the knowledge acquired during the development of the project around the biology of the central nervous system, also enabled the adaptation of the material towards the development of a hydrogel-based therapeutic platform intended to treat ischemic stroke.