Descrizione del progetto
La stampa 3D per ripristinare un cuore danneggiato
La cardiopatia ischemica (malattia coronarica) è la principale causa di morte in Europa. I ricercatori biomedici sono alla ricerca di soluzioni nei meccanismi di autoriparazione di tessuti o organi. Tuttavia, la soluzione più promettente risiede nei progressi relativi a riprogrammazione cellulare, biomateriali o stampa 3D combinati con lo studio approfondito della fisiologia miocardica. Il progetto BRAV3, finanziato dall’UE, svilupperà un dispositivo biologico duraturo in grado di pompare assieme a un cuore danneggiato attraverso la progettazione di un tessuto rigenerativo con l’uso di biomateriali, cellule staminali e una modellazione computazionale avanzata con disegni stampabili 3D. Sviluppando dispositivi di assistenza ventricolare biologica (Biological Ventricular Assist Devices, BioVAD), BRAV3 consentirà un salto di qualità nella medicina rigenerativa e nella sua traduzione verso la clinica, oltre a influire sullo sviluppo di nuove tecnologie mediche, migliorando notevolmente le nostre conoscenze sullo sviluppo del cuore umano.
Obiettivo
Ischemic heart disease is the main cause of death in the EU, straining patients and economies. Regenerative Medicine has failed at delivering a definitive solution, and even the breakthrough of cell reprogramming, biomaterials or 3D printing, have not been able to find a curative solution. Generating a muscle with efficient pumping requires a careful recapitulation of the myocardial architecture. BRAV∃ is born with the ambition of shaping this quantum leap in the field. The overall concept is to provide a lasting functional support to injured hearts through the fabrication of regenerative personalized advanced tissue engineering-based biological ventricular assist devices (BioVADs). To do so, we will apply multimodal deep cardiac phenotyping, coupled to advanced Computational Modelling and biomechanical analysis in a large animal model of disease, to create a personalised 3D printable design. We will for the first time create a fibre-reinforced human heart-sized cardiac tissue able to recapitulate the low Young´s Modulus of the myocardium while withstanding pressures generated during the cardiac circle. Using the latest human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) technology and industrial-scale growth and differentiation, we will cellularize this novel human heart-sized constructs, creating a highly efficiently aligned cardiac tissue (including vasculature). BioVADs will be matured in in-Consortium built electromechanical stimulation bioreactors before transplantation in a porcine model of disease. We anticipate our BioVADs will constitute a one-shot regenerative treatment of IHD, decreasing the burden on healthcare providers and improving the quality of life of patients. Crucially, we will for the first time generate a wealth of information on heart development at a human scale. Delivering this novel application whilst developing the technological environment (bioreactor, chamber, pacemaker) will boost the capacity of the EU to grow economically and lead the field.
Campo scientifico
- engineering and technologyenvironmental biotechnologybioremediationbioreactors
- medical and health sciencesmedical biotechnologycells technologiesstem cells
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesbiophysics
- engineering and technologymechanical engineeringmanufacturing engineeringadditive manufacturing
- medical and health sciencesclinical medicinetransplantation
Parole chiave
Programma(i)
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Vedi altri progetti per questo bandoBando secondario
H2020-SC1-2019-Single-Stage-RTD
Meccanismo di finanziamento
RIA - Research and Innovation actionCoordinatore
31080 Pamplona
Spagna