Descripción del proyecto
Una plataforma de bioimpresión 3D con cabezales de impresión intercambiables
La bioimpresión 3D es la tecnología con mayor potencial para producir tejidos artificiales. Los elementos principales de la bioimpresión 3D son el cabezal y las biotintas, que incluyen células vivas y componentes extracelulares. El cabezal de impresión 3D controla la deposición de la biotinta y los elementos se pueden disociar entre sí. En consecuencia, el éxito de la bioimpresión de tejidos funcionales depende directamente de la posibilidad de contar con una impresora 3D compatible con las características de cada biotinta diseñada específicamente para cada compartimento de un determinado tejido. El proyecto financiado con fondos europeos BioPrint4All propone comprobar y demostrar la viabilidad de una plataforma de impresión 3D por encargo que pueda combinar múltiples cabezales con diferentes funciones.
Objetivo
Three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting has been projected as one of the technologies with higher prospects to engineer tissue surrogates, which are i) an unquestionable demand for regenerative medicine and ii) an acknowledged upgrade of 2D in vitro cultures as reliable and predictive testing/screening systems for pharma and cosmetic industries. Despite the important milestones achieved so far, bioprinting functional tissues surrogates has proved difficult. The biggest challenge still is the fabrication of complex (different cell types and extracellular components) structures that work, as a whole, as in the native tissue, thus being physiologically relevant.
The key 3D bioprinting elements are the printer – more specifically the printing head – and the bioinks (live cells plus extracellular components). As the print head controls the deposition of the bioink, one cannot be dissociated from the other. Thus, the successful 3D bioprinting of functional tissue surrogates is directly linked to the possibility to have a 3D printer that supports the characteristics of each bioink designed explicitly for each compartment of a specific tissue. Therefore, a new mind-set in which an integrated development of the print heads (guaranteeing processability and cell-friendly conditions) and the bioinks (ideal combination of biomaterial and cell designed explicitly for each compartment of a specific tissue) is required.
This project proposes to prove the feasibility of having an on-demand 3D printing platform that can combine multiple print heads with different features, virtually at any combination. This strategy will foster reaching significant milestones in a shorter time and expectably at lower costs due to more straightforward and highly innovative scientifically-driven approaches.
Ámbito científico
Programa(s)
Régimen de financiación
ERC-POC - Proof of Concept GrantInstitución de acogida
4704 553 Braga
Portugal