Engineered viscoelasticity in regenerative microenvironments
This project aims to develop viscoelastic hydrogels to enhance mesenchymal stem cell differentiation and promote bone regeneration, while utilizing Brillouin microscopy to monitor their properties in vivo.
Projectdetails
Introduction
Tissues are viscoelastic materials whose mechanical properties evolve with time, and yet this important property has not been incorporated in the design of regenerative biomaterials. Mechanical properties of biomaterials are known to influence fundamental cellular processes, including cell migration, cell growth, and cell differentiation.
Importance of Mechanical Properties
However, most of the work to understand the mechanical properties of substrates on mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) differentiation has made use of pure elastic materials. Cells probe their environment by pulling forces and receiving mechanical feedback through membrane receptors.
Hypothesis
Since viscoelastic materials respond with a time-dependent process to force, we hypothesize that viscoelasticity will play a fundamental role in the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells and hence in the design of regenerative biomaterials.
Project Objectives
This project will develop:
- A new family of viscoelastic hydrogels with controlled properties that include:
- Biochemical functionalities (recapitulating the properties of the extracellular matrix in vivo)
- Extreme mechanical properties (i.e., very low/high elastic and viscous properties)
- Mechanical gradients
- Brillouin microscopy to follow the evolution of the local viscoelastic properties of these cell-laden materials as a function of time.
Application
We will use viscoelastic materials to promote bone regeneration in vivo using our critical-sized defect in the mouse radius model. In a major attempt to move the field forward, we will further develop Brillouin microscopy to monitor the viscoelastic properties of regenerative microenvironments in vivo.
Financiële details & Tijdlijn
Financiële details
Subsidiebedrag | € 2.497.246 |
Totale projectbegroting | € 2.497.246 |
Tijdlijn
Startdatum | 1-9-2023 |
Einddatum | 31-8-2028 |
Subsidiejaar | 2023 |
Partners & Locaties
Projectpartners
- FUNDACIO INSTITUT DE BIOENGINYERIA DE CATALUNYApenvoerder
Land(en)
Vergelijkbare projecten binnen European Research Council
Project | Regeling | Bedrag | Jaar | Actie |
---|---|---|---|---|
MANUNKIND: Determinants and Dynamics of Collaborative ExploitationThis project aims to develop a game theoretic framework to analyze the psychological and strategic dynamics of collaborative exploitation, informing policies to combat modern slavery. | ERC STG | € 1.497.749 | 2022 | Details |
Elucidating the phenotypic convergence of proliferation reduction under growth-induced pressureThe UnderPressure project aims to investigate how mechanical constraints from 3D crowding affect cell proliferation and signaling in various organisms, with potential applications in reducing cancer chemoresistance. | ERC STG | € 1.498.280 | 2022 | Details |
Uncovering the mechanisms of action of an antiviral bacteriumThis project aims to uncover the mechanisms behind Wolbachia's antiviral protection in insects and develop tools for studying symbiont gene function. | ERC STG | € 1.500.000 | 2023 | Details |
The Ethics of Loneliness and SociabilityThis project aims to develop a normative theory of loneliness by analyzing ethical responsibilities of individuals and societies to prevent and alleviate loneliness, establishing a new philosophical sub-field. | ERC STG | € 1.025.860 | 2023 | Details |
MANUNKIND: Determinants and Dynamics of Collaborative Exploitation
This project aims to develop a game theoretic framework to analyze the psychological and strategic dynamics of collaborative exploitation, informing policies to combat modern slavery.
Elucidating the phenotypic convergence of proliferation reduction under growth-induced pressure
The UnderPressure project aims to investigate how mechanical constraints from 3D crowding affect cell proliferation and signaling in various organisms, with potential applications in reducing cancer chemoresistance.
Uncovering the mechanisms of action of an antiviral bacterium
This project aims to uncover the mechanisms behind Wolbachia's antiviral protection in insects and develop tools for studying symbiont gene function.
The Ethics of Loneliness and Sociability
This project aims to develop a normative theory of loneliness by analyzing ethical responsibilities of individuals and societies to prevent and alleviate loneliness, establishing a new philosophical sub-field.
Vergelijkbare projecten uit andere regelingen
Project | Regeling | Bedrag | Jaar | Actie |
---|---|---|---|---|
Vibrational Micro-robots in Viscoelastic Biological TissuesThe project aims to develop vibrational micro-robots (VIBEBOTS) for efficient propulsion and sensing in viscoelastic biological tissues, enhancing targeted drug delivery and minimally-invasive procedures. | ERC STG | € 1.499.728 | 2023 | Details |
Intelligent Device and Computational Software to Control Mechanical Stress and Deformation for Biological TestingISBIOMECH aims to develop a novel intelligent system for controlling mechanical environments in biological testing, enhancing in-vitro therapies and drug discovery for various pathologies. | ERC POC | € 150.000 | 2023 | Details |
Supramolecular & Covalent Bonds for Engineering Spatiotemporal Complexity in Hydrogel BiomaterialsThe project aims to develop tough, spatiotemporally responsive hydrogels by combining dynamic supramolecular assemblies with covalent bonds for innovative biomaterial applications. | ERC COG | € 2.000.000 | 2024 | Details |
Development of an In-Vivo Brillouin Microscope (with application to Protein Aggregation-based Pathologies)This project aims to enhance Brillouin Microscopy for real-time, non-destructive assessment of viscoelastic properties in living cells, addressing key biomedical challenges. | EIC Pathfinder | € 3.333.513 | 2023 | Details |
Vibrational Micro-robots in Viscoelastic Biological Tissues
The project aims to develop vibrational micro-robots (VIBEBOTS) for efficient propulsion and sensing in viscoelastic biological tissues, enhancing targeted drug delivery and minimally-invasive procedures.
Intelligent Device and Computational Software to Control Mechanical Stress and Deformation for Biological Testing
ISBIOMECH aims to develop a novel intelligent system for controlling mechanical environments in biological testing, enhancing in-vitro therapies and drug discovery for various pathologies.
Supramolecular & Covalent Bonds for Engineering Spatiotemporal Complexity in Hydrogel Biomaterials
The project aims to develop tough, spatiotemporally responsive hydrogels by combining dynamic supramolecular assemblies with covalent bonds for innovative biomaterial applications.
Development of an In-Vivo Brillouin Microscope (with application to Protein Aggregation-based Pathologies)
This project aims to enhance Brillouin Microscopy for real-time, non-destructive assessment of viscoelastic properties in living cells, addressing key biomedical challenges.