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Project

Development and characterization of a photocurable gelatin-based hydrogel as a cell-carrier for extrusion-based 3D bioprinting and osteochondral tissue engineering.

Recent advances in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering (TE) have opened the way for novel treatment strategies for damaged joints. Inspired by developmental biology and based on principles of engineering, TE aims to manufacture a cell-based construct in a clinically relevant manner. To do so, cells are combined with an appropriate biomaterial and growth factors in such a way that it stimulates de novo tissue formation. Although successful tissue regeneration has been reported with some of those approaches, their clinical relevance remains limited. A major hurdle has been the upscaling and reproducibility of the manufacturing of such a biological combination product. Creating an implant that will be clinically relevant highly depends on new enabling technologies. In this regard 3D-bioprinting, defined as the 3D printing of tissue engineered constructs using cell-laden ‘bio-ink’, is a promising and exciting new technology. Key in the development of novel bio-inks are the material characteristics of the hydrogel in which the cells are encapsulated during printing. In addition, this hydrogel will initially give the cell-laden construct its biomechanical properties post-printing.

In this Ph.D-project we will investigate the tailoring of a range of hydrogels in order to improve the physiochemical properties of the bio-ink as well as the incorporation of growth factors to increase the biological functionality of the material. Eventually this will lead to an improved printability and maturation of a cell-based construct for osteochondral tissue repair. 

Date:24 Oct 2016 →  14 Mar 2023
Keywords:Biomaterials, Tissue engineering, 3D bioprinting, Hydrogels
Disciplines:Materials science and engineering, Tissue engineering, Biomaterials
Project type:PhD project