We are working on Melt electrowriting (MEW) of scaffolds for recapitulation of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) in dynamic on-chip cancer models.
This project aims to design a thin polymeric membrane on which relevant for BBB cells to form confluent layers with tight junctions. The membrane will serve as a minimalistic supporting scaffold, favoring cell-cell interactions instead of cell-material interactions. The properties of the membranes, such as architecture, porosity, and fiber thickness, are investigated in relation to cell behavior and tissue formation. For the in vitro stimulation to be completed, dynamic conditions need to be added. The innovative microfluidics approach offers a way to imitate the organ environment in a highly accurate manner by incorporating different stimuli in the cell microenvironment. Thus, in combination with MEW, it provides an opportunity to build an accurate cancer-on-a-chip model.
Project involvement:
Magdalena Gladysz
Funded by:
Scholarship Program issued by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture, and Science (OCW).