PFI:AIR - TT: Proof of concept study and scaleability of injection molded nanostructured biomedical consumables

该PFI：AIR技术转化项目专注于将多尺度注塑成型技术转化为生物研究中的应用，特别是体外细胞生长。体外培养的细胞是生物医学研究和开发中非常有用的工具。最近在体外细胞生长领域的研究已经导致了一些关于细胞如何表现和响应其环境的重要发现。这些发现显著改变了研究人员对细胞生长方式的看法;然而，反映这一知识的商业产品很少，这可能会导致从体外受精（IVF）到药物测试疾病模型开发等应用的瓶颈。该项目将产生一系列细胞培养基质原型，旨在改善细胞生长和发育，而不是目前工业中使用的传统平坦聚苯乙烯表面。 原型将被设计用于大批量生产，以确保生物医学领域的商业用途和成本效益。该项目解决了从研究发现到商业应用的以下技术差距。 首先，用于微米/纳米级的多尺度模制的传统硅工具成本过高。 其次，具有低微米至纳米级特征的注塑成型聚合物器件的大批量制造目前受到诸如工具寿命和制造鲁棒性等因素的限制。 第三，未来商业化需要对此类产品的稳健的体外细胞应答。 为了解决这些技术差距，该团队将采用受天然细胞环境启发的设计，使用成熟的小鼠胚胎体外细胞生长试验。用于大批量生产的模具将使用大块金属玻璃模具生产，并将在此基础上分析模具的稳健性。 聚合物流变学将以各种方式进行控制，以确保特性的一致性和再现性。 与模具生产和其他工具相关的成本将被纳入当前的工作财务模型中，以确定下一阶段的商业化工作。 此外，参与该项目的人员，包括一名研究生和一个本科生/高中生团队，将通过开发设计，与潜在客户交谈，并协助开发该技术的商业化计划，获得创新和创业经验。

This PFI: AIR Technology Translation project focuses on translating multi-scale injection molding technology to applications in biological research, specifically for in vitro cell growth. Cells grown in vitro are critically useful tools in biomedical research and development. Recent research in the area of in vitro cell growth has led to a number of important discoveries with regards to how cells behave and respond to their environment. These discoveries have significantly altered the way that researchers think about how cells grow; however, few commercial products reflecting this knowledge exist, possibly causing bottlenecks in applications ranging from in vitro fertilization (IVF) to disease model development for pharmaceutical testing. The project will result in a family of cell culture substrate prototypes designed to improve cell growth and development over the traditional flat polystyrene surfaces currently used in the industry today. The prototypes will be designed for high-volume manufacturing to ensure commercial usefulness and cost-effectiveness in the biomedical sector. This project addresses the following technology gaps as it translates from research discovery toward commercial application. First, traditional silicon tooling for multi-scale molding at the micro/nanoscale is cost-prohibitive. Second, the high-volume manufacturing of injection-molded polymeric devices that possess features at the low micro to nanoscale is currently limited by factors such as tooling life and manufacturing robustness. Third, a robust in vitro cell response to such products is required for future commercialization. To address these technology gaps, the team will employ designs inspired by native cell environments, using a well-established in vitro cell growth assay for mouse embryos. Molds for high volume manufacturing will be produced using bulk metallic glass tooling, on which mold robustness will be analyzed. Polymer rheology will be controlled in a variety of ways to ensure feature consistency and reproducibility. Costs associated with mold production and other tooling will be built into the current working financial model to determine the next phase of the commercialization effort. In addition, personnel involved in this project, including a graduate student and a team of undergraduate/high school students will receive innovation and entrepreneurship experience by developing the designs, talking to potential customers, and aiding with the development of a commercialization plan for the technology.