Descripción del proyecto
La bioimpresión 3D pronto podría recibir un impulso gracias a la «tinta» normalizada y almacenable
Hace unos cuarenta años, un revolucionario dispositivo para la creación de estructuras complejas tridimensionales (3D) de formas libres llegó al mercado. La impresión 3D dio origen a la fabricación por adición, utilizada para producir rápidamente prototipos mediante la adición de capas secuenciales de materiales a un sustrato basado en archivos de diseño asistido por ordenador (CAD). Los bioingenieros que buscaban hacer tejidos y órganos en 3D complejos tomaron el relevo y siguieron avanzando. Sin embargo, la recreación de la vasculatura vital ha sido un desafío. SE3DPASTE está desarrollando un proceso para crear baños de incrustación (geles) normalizados, portátiles, almacenables y específicos para tejidos para la bioimpresión, que están diseñados para guiar la formación de la vasculatura en 3D. Si tiene éxito, el tejido impreso en 3D «comercial» pronto podría convertirse en el estándar.
Objetivo
Engineering tissues with a hierarchical vascular network, which is the goal of our ERC project VascArbor, is challenging. Developments in the field of biofabrication, including 3D bioprinting, are promising to cope with this challenge. However, current strategies lack the capacity to create hierarchical, high resolution, cost efficient, upscalable constructs in a standardized manner with a single approach.
Embedded bioprinting, allowing the deposition of complex constructs without the need of a supporting substrate, provides a potential solution. However, embedding baths used so far consist of inert materials and therefore cannot become a functional component of the tissue. Also, the embedding bath should be patternable to allow for multistructural tissues, but printing of the bath itself is currently challenging due to clogging of the nozzle.
SE3DPASTE will develop a dehydrated precursor of a free standing embedding bath that is storable for “off-the-shelf” use and tissue specific. Additionally, SE3DPASTE will develop a bespoke 3D printing nozzle that will allow for the creation of patterned embedding baths. SE3DPASTE will lead to storable, transportable, tissue specific embedding baths that act as a patterning template and can be used for embedded bioprinting of tissue. This combination of features, which does currently not exist in embedding baths for 3D printing, will be a key enabler for the generation of standardized 3D tissue environments that lead to predictable tissue development for research-, clinical-, or drug screening purposes.
SE3DPASTE will not only develop the technology to make this possible, but will also take vital steps to bring this technology to the market. By securing the IP, and analyzing the market and the willingness of investors to support SE3DPASTE technology, a fruitful basis for translation will be formed. Finally, this will lead to a business plan providing a roadmap on the necessary future steps to create a market ready product.
Ámbito científico
Programa(s)
Régimen de financiación
ERC-POC-LS - ERC Proof of Concept Lump Sum PilotInstitución de acogida
7522 NB Enschede
Países Bajos