Description du projet
Une plateforme de bioimpression 3D avec têtes d’impression interchangeables
La bioimpression 3D constitue la technologie qui présente le meilleur potentiel pour concevoir des substituts tissulaires. Les éléments clés de la bioimpression 3D sont la tête d’impression et les bioencres, composées de cellules vivantes et de composants extracellulaires. La tête d’impression 3D contrôle le dépôt de bioencre, et ces éléments ne peuvent être dissociés les uns des autres. Par conséquent, la bioimpression réussie de substituts de tissus fonctionnels est directement liée à la capacité d’une imprimante 3D à prendre en charge les caractéristiques de chaque bioencre conçue explicitement pour chaque compartiment d’un tissu spécifique. Le projet BioPrint4All financé par l’UE propose de tester et de prouver la faisabilité d’une plateforme d’impression 3D à la demande capable de combiner plusieurs têtes d’impression avec différentes fonctionnalités.
Objectif
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.
Champ scientifique
Programme(s)
Régime de financement
ERC-POC - Proof of Concept GrantInstitution d’accueil
4704 553 Braga
Portugal