Placenta-chip for new biomarker discovery and production technologies

该项目开发了一种用于培养胎盘细胞的微流体装置，用于生产蛋白质，如高糖基化hCG，这些蛋白质在诊断试验中用作重要的生物标志物。我们的合作伙伴Evik Diagnostics有兴趣开发可靠的人类生物标志物，用于孕产妇健康和癌症筛查领域的诊断检测。这些生物标志物在胎盘中自然产生。因此，模拟胎盘中细胞的体内组织可以创造正确的培养条件，促进胎盘干细胞的生长和生物标志物蛋白的产生。在这个项目中，我们将利用我们在微流体和微生物反应器设计方面的专业知识来制造微流体支架，允许接种构成人类胎盘的各种细胞类型，并确定促进胎盘干细胞生长的条件。我们还将研究这些生物反应器中生物标志物蛋白质的生产，特别是高糖基化hCG，并确定该技术是否适用于诊断应用的可靠供应。该项目的成果将使我们的合作伙伴Evik Diagnostics在确保其产品质量控制和保持内部可靠的蛋白质生产方面受益匪浅。该项目还将培养学生的跨学科技能，与工业合作伙伴的互动将是对学生的良好培训。

This project develops a microfluidic device that is used to cultivate Placental cells for production of proteins such as hyperglycosylated-hCG that are used as important biomarkers in diagnostic assays. Our partner, Evik Diagnostics, is interested in developing a reliable supply of human biomarkers for use in their diagnostics assays in the area of maternal health and cancer screening. These biomarkers are produced naturally in the placenta. Therefore, mimicking the in-vivo organisation of cells in the placenta can create the right culture conditions that will promote the growth of placental stem cells and production of the biomarker proteins. In this project, we will use our expertise in microfluidics and microbioreactor design to fabricate microfluidic scaffolds that allow seeding of various cell types that constitute the human placenta and determine conditions that will promote the growth of placental stem cells. We will also investigate the production of the biomarker proteins, especially hyperglycosylated-hCG, in these bioreactors and identify if this technology would be suitable for reliable supply for diagnostic applications. The outcomes of this project will be a significant benefit to our partner, Evik Diagnostics, in ensuring quality control of their products and maintaining a in-house reliable production of the proteins. This project will also develop interdisciplinary skills in the students and the interaction with industrial partner will be an excellent training for the students.