Project description
Mid-infrared laser system for single-cell bioprinting without contamination
Laser‐induced forward transfer (LIFT) is a bioprinting technique that uses nanosecond laser pulses to transfer biological materials from a donor slide with a metallic laser absorbing layer to a receiving substrate. It allows for high-throughput printing of biomaterials with single-cell resolution, with the potential to enable high-resolution fabrication of biological tissues. The major challenge of LIFT bioprinting is the contamination of printed samples by metallic nanoparticles, which occurs due to the ablation of the laser-absorbing layer. The EU-funded MIDLIFT project focusses on the development of novel high-power laser systems in the mid-infrared to exploit the intrinsic absorption of biomaterials and eliminate the need for a metallic absorption layer, with the goal of enabling the contamination-free printing of biomaterials.
Objective
The goal of this Fellowship is the development of a novel mid-infrared laser system for high-throughput bioprinting by laser-induced forward-transfer (LIFT). The Fellow will develop a high repetition-rate, high-power, nanosecond laser system emitting at exactly 2.9 µm (the peak absorption wavelength of liquid water). The strong absorption of the mid-infrared laser output in biomaterials will be utilised for the demonstration of a new bioprinting technique: mid-infrared LIFT of biomaterials. It will overcome the main drawback of conventional biomaterial LIFT, which is the reliance on additional absorber layers and contamination of printed materials with metallic debris. Mid-infrared LIFT will enable high-throughput (10k droplets/s), high-resolution (picolitre droplets) 3D-printing of biomaterials without metallic contamination and will be a highly promising platform for tissue fabrication.
The mid-infrared laser system will be realised with a gain-switched quantum-cascade diode laser and multiple Er-doped fluoride-fibre amplifier stages. The laser system will be designed to provide 25 ns pulse durations, 10-30 µJ pulse energies, 100 kHz repetition rate, and laser emission at 2.9 µm wavelength. This laser system will be integrated into an existing LIFT setup and used for the first demonstration of mid-infrared LIFT bioprinting.
The Fellow is an early-stage postdoc, who has resumed his research career after a 5-year period working in industry. He is an expert in fibre laser development and will be trained in quantum-cascade-lasers, gain-switched diode lasers, LIFT, and bioprinting. The complementary training will include communication and dissemination of research results, commercialisation of research output, and acquisition of research and innovation project funding. The Fellowship will enable the Fellow to establish a unique scientific profile, build a research network, and reach professional maturity.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- engineering and technology industrial biotechnology biomaterials
- natural sciences physical sciences optics laser physics
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Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
MSCA-IF-EF-ST - Standard EF
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-IF-2018
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
B4 7ET Birmingham
United Kingdom
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