Project description
Supramolecular materials for in vitro cell differentiation
The microenvironment of the embryo plays an instrumental role in guiding cell fate determination during development. In vitro differentiation protocols attempt to mimic this microenvironment with biochemical cues on 2D substrates, but they lack the 3D complexity of the natural extracellular matrix (ECM). The EU-funded SupraCTRL project proposes to use supramolecular materials to recapitulate the structural and dynamic character of the ECM. By controlling the mechanical properties of these materials in time, scientists will guide the differentiation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) into cardiomyocytes, providing fundamental insight into the spatiotemporal cues that drive organ development.
Objective
The biochemical and biophysical cues of the stem cell environment that act in a concerted and spatiotemporal manner lead to the formation of the 200 cell types and organs of the human body, but how this precisely occurs remains unclear and it is necessary to guide their production for use in the biomedical area. Standard differentiation protocols in vitro mimic known stages in development by the timed addition of biochemical cues on 2D substrates, however these protocols lack the complexity of the 3D natural extracellular matrix (ECM), with its mechanical character that evolves in time. Supramolecular materials can recapitulate the structural and dynamic character of the ECM being based on non-covalent interactions. Moreover, as I have shown, their mechanical soft character can mimic embryonic microenvironment for induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) culture but renders them unable to mimic stiff and tough tissues. Double networks using covalent polymers have demonstrated to achieve such mechanical properties, however these materials lack the cytocompatibility for use in 3D cell culture. In this proposal, I will synthesize hybrid covalent-supramolecular polymer networks that use biocompatible chemical and light-activated ligation approaches to apply them to guide the fate of iPSCs to cardiomyocytes by controlling their mechanical properties in time. I will exploit the unique properties of these double networked materials to interface them with biomechanical devices, and as an actuatable culture platform by 3-D printing a miniature beating heart ventricle. These advanced culture platforms based on hybrid-covalent supramolecular materials that go from soft to stiff and tough in time and space with shifting-shapes, with the potential to decouple the presentation of bioactive cues in an integrated manner, will provide uncharted opportunities to understand the spatiotemporal evolution of active and passive mechanical cues in development from cell to organ.
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 chemical sciences polymer sciences
- engineering and technology industrial biotechnology biomaterials
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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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H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
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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.
ERC-STG - Starting Grant
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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-2019-STG
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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.
2311 EZ Leiden
Netherlands
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.