CAREER: Engineering next-generation adrenal gland organoids

有机化合物是人体器官的3D微型版本，可以帮助我们了解器官是如何生长和工作的。有机化合物有助于了解人体器官的发育、细胞如何相互对话，以及我们的身体如何自我修复。这个项目的重点是制造更好的有机化合物，它的作用更像真正的器官。有机物质通常是由特殊的细胞制成的，这些细胞可以变成许多不同的细胞类型。在引导下，这些细胞将自己组织成3D形状，看起来像真正的器官。许多有机化合物还没有达到它们应有的效果。首先，研究人员已经为大脑、肾脏和肺制造了有机化合物，但并不是所有的器官都以有机化合物的形式出现。例如，肾上腺类器官并不存在。肾上腺是产生荷尔蒙的关键，荷尔蒙可以帮助我们调节压力、喝多少水以及性发育。在这里，目的是制造肾上腺有机化合物。其次，大多数器官是球形的，但大多数器官有不同的形状；这些形状很重要，将制成真正肾上腺形状的肾上腺器官。第三，大型有机体内有时会有死亡部分，因为食物和氧气在没有血管的情况下无法进入体内。在这里，植物的根将被用来在有机体中形成稻草状的隧道，这样食物就可以到达内部。在一种互惠互利的方法中，所学到的东西将与其他人分享。在与艺术家的合作中，将创造一个房间大小的有机雕塑，并将制作受科学启发的舞蹈。反过来，艺术家处理科学问题的方法将启发科学道路。此外，初中生和高中生将通过陶艺渗透的科学课程来模拟他们自己的想象细胞；研究生将创建他们自己的艺术与科学联系项目。该项目的总体目标是生成器官自然形状的微型工程肾上腺器官，并提供一种血管样结构，使它们能够成熟。目标1：制造看起来像肾上腺并具有肾上腺功能的有机化合物。因为形状或器官很重要，所以它会被复制。该计划是使用3D打印来制作正确器官形状的模具。然后，这些细胞将被加入这些模具中，以生长有机物质。我们将把这种新型有机化合物与球形有机化合物进行比较，看看它们的效果是否更好。目标2：制造能够长得更大、寿命更长的有机化合物。当它们变得太大时，大多数有机物质就会停止生长或死亡。在这里，植物的根将被插入有机化合物中，以创建稻草状的结构，使食物和氧气进入有机化合物内部，并保持那里的细胞存活，即使有机化合物变得又大又老。最终，这个项目将帮助研究人员更多地了解如何制造更好的有机化合物。这个项目将在有机化合物研讨会上达到高潮，在那里每个人都可以看到通过科学、教育和艺术学到了什么关于有机化合物的知识。这个奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Organoids are 3D, miniature versions of human organs, that help us learn about how organs grow and work. Organoids are useful for understanding human organ development, how cells talk to each other, and how our bodies fix themselves. This project focuses on making better organoids that act more like real organs. Organoids are usually made from special cells that can become many different cell types. With guidance, these cells organize themselves into a 3D shape that look like the real organ. Many organoids are not yet as good as they could be. First, researchers have made organoids for brains, kidneys, and lungs, but not all organs are represented as organoids yet. For example, adrenal gland organoids do not exist. Adrenal glands are critical for producing hormones that help us regulate stress, how much water to drink, and sexual development. Here, the aim is to make adrenal gland organoids. Second, most organoids are spheres, but most organs have different shapes; these shapes matter and adrenal gland organoids in the shape of real adrenal glands will be made. Third, big organoids sometimes have dead parts inside, because food and oxygen cannot reach the inside without blood vessels. Here, plant roots will be used to make straw-like tunnels into the organoids so that food can reach the inside. In a give-and-take approach, what is learned will be shared with others. In collaboration with artists, a room-size organoid sculpture will be created, and dances inspired by the science will be made. In return, the artists approach to the scientific problems will inspire the scientific paths. Additionally, middle and high school students will be taught through ceramic art infused science classes to model their own imaginary cells; and graduate students will create their own art-science liaison project. The overall goal of this project is to generate miniature engineered adrenal gland organoids in the native shape of the organ and to provide a vasculature-like structure that will allow them to mature. Goal 1: Make organoids that look like and function as adrenal glands. Since the shape or organs is important, it will be copied. The plan is to use 3D printing to make molds in the correct organ shape. Then, the cells will be added into these molds to grow the organoids. The engineered new organoids will be compared to spherical organoids to see if they work better. Goal 2: Make organoids that can grow bigger and live longer. Most organoids stop growing or die when they get too big. Here, plant roots will be stuck into the organoids to create straw-like structures that will allow food and oxygen to get to the inside of the organoids and keep the cells there alive, even if the organoids get big and old. In the end, this project will help researchers learn more about how to make better organoids. This project will culminate in an organoid symposium, where everyone can see what is learned about organoids through science, education and art.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.