RESEARCH FOCUS
Reconstruction of native tissue complexity
Natural tissues are highly organized structures, difficult to mimic. However, their close resemblance is crucial for tissue engineering.
The clinical challenge
As a consequence of increasing average life expectancies and increasing physical activity, such as high impact sports, the number of musculoskeletal injuries requiring medical interventions is constantly growing. Hard-soft tissue interfaces, such as bone-tendon, bone-ligament, bone-cartilage junctions, are a major site of ruptures and long-term degeneration.
RESEARCH FOCUS
Recreating native tissue complexity
Mimicking native gradients
Interfacial tissues are an example of complex architecture, with a gradual transition of mechanical and chemical properties. Regeneration of this highly organized structure is extremely difficult and there is a lack of material systems that can closely mimic native gradients. However, close resembling of this native, multifactorial environment is critical for regenerative medicine and tissue engineering.
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Precision through biofabrication
To address the need for treatments with high therapeutic potential, we are employing 3D biofabrication techniques, i.e. extrusion bioprinting and melt electrowriting, to build up close mimics of native tissues.
Bio-instructive scaffolds
Our aim is to build up hierarchical scaffolds that closely resemble the native structure of tissues and can provide bio-instructive cues to direct the cell behavior. We have a current focus on hard-soft interfaces, however other tissues are studied also.
RESEARCH FOCUS
From tissue models to patient-specific implants
Take-home message
Take home message: Due to the unprecedented precision in material deposition, biofabrication approach is a highly promising tool for constructing bio-instructive scaffolds with high precision to mimic native tissues.
Our mission
Our ultimate goal is to produce patient-specific implants for regeneration of hard-soft tissue interfaces (eg., connection between bone and ligament). In the longer term, proposed solutions will lead to reliable and cheaper alternatives to currently available treatments.
We are developing scaffolds for regeneration and in vitro models of different tissue types. Our work will facilitate progress in tissue engineering, regenerative medicine and the development of new pharmacological treatments.
Image sources:
File:Connective_Tissue_Tendon_(41812677172).jpg
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