What is the problem/issue being addressed?
The development of cell-based three-dimensional tissue surrogates, pathophysiology models and meat products required prolonged ex vivo culture periods. Bereft of their optimal tissue context for lengthy periods, cells lose their phenotype and function during in vitro expansion. Although macromolecular crowding (MMC) has been introduced as a means to accelerate the development of three-dimensional cell-based products, we are still at early stages of understanding how it actually works in eukaryotic cell culture.
What are the overall objectives?
1. To understand and optimise MMC in permanently differentiated and stem cell cultures;
2: To develop three-dimensional tissue surrogates, using the principles of MMC;
3: To develop three-dimensional pathophysiology models, using the principles of MMC;
4: To develop three-dimensional meat products, using the principles of MMC.
Why is it important for society?
Although cell-based tissue engineered medicines, in vitro pathophysiology models and cellular agriculture products have shown unprecedented success in clinical setting, ability to predict in vivo therapeutic efficiency and potential to develop alternative food sources in an environmental compliant manner, respectively, only a handful of products have been commercialised. The major roadblock is considered the prolonged culture time required to develop an implantable device. Such lengthy culture periods increase manufacturing costs and costs of goods, rendering the therapies too expensive for healthcare providers and therefore inaccessible to patients, for example in the case of cell-based tissue engineered medicines. Lengthy culture periods are also associated with high energy consumption costs. This project will transform cell-based sectors, making now cellular products economically viable.
