Facility for Real Time Imaging of 3D Bioprinted Neural Tissues

3D 生物打印神经组织实时成像设施

• 批准号: RTI-2020-00147
• 负责人: Willerth, Stephanie
• 金额: $ 10.93万
• 依托单位: University of Victoria
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Research Tools and Instruments
• 财政年份: 2019
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2019-01-01 至 2020-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=693762
• 关键词: Facility; Real; Time; Imaging; 3D

The use of 3D bioprinting has become an increasing popular strategy for engineering tissues as it can automate this process while enhancing reproducibility of the printed tissues, saving time and money. This process takes on specifications contained in a digital computer aided design (CAD) file and generates a living structure by printing cells encapsulated in specially formulated bioinks. 3D bioprinting serves as a powerful tool for engineering tissues from stem cells in a rapid and reproducible manner compared to traditional techniques. The Willerth lab uses 3D bioprinting to generate neural tissues from human induced pluripotent stem cells combined with their novel neurobioink as a tool for drug screening. In particular, her lab is an international leader in this field as they are one of the few institutions to possess an Aspect Biosystems RX1 bioprinting system that features Lab-on-a-Printer (LOP) technology. This system offers a novel way to automate the process of engineering physiologically relevant neural tissues that have complicated structures and several types of cells. The complex nature of brain tissue requires precise deposition of multiple cell types in defined structures only achievable with Aspect's RX1 bioprinting platform and its unique, patented LOP technology. The Willerth lab was the first group to publish how to engineer living tissues using this unique technology and they continue to pursue ground breaking research in this area. This proposal will enable the acquisition of real time cell imaging system to be used for monitoring the behavior of cells inside of 3D bioprinted tissues. Our previous instrument broke and thus there is a clear and urgent need to replace our live cell imaging system. Acquiring this equipment will enable the Willerth lab to better characterize their tissue cultures by monitoring their properties in real time and to train highly qualified personnel in this cutting edge bioprinting technology. In particular, this system and its associated software enable the characterization of the physical, chemical, and electrical properties of the 3D bioprinted tissues derived from stem cells. Her laboratory provides a high quality training experience as Dr. Willerth has a strong track record of training diverse HQP as she was awarded the 2018 REACH Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Research-inspired Teaching. Additionally, she currently holds two international exchange grants for promoting HQP training in the area of 3D bioprinting based on her unique facility at the University of Victoria. This equipment will enable training of diverse students in cutting edge technology. Her trainees will also have access to additional resources, including the Stem Cell Network, the International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries, and the B.C. Regenerative Medicine Network.

3D生物打印的使用已经成为工程组织越来越受欢迎的策略，因为它可以自动化这一过程，同时提高打印组织的可重复性，节省时间和金钱。该过程采用包含在数字计算机辅助设计（CAD）文件中的规格，并通过打印封装在特殊配制的生物墨水中的细胞来生成活结构。与传统技术相比，3D生物打印是以快速和可重复的方式从干细胞工程组织的强大工具。Willerth实验室使用3D生物打印技术从人类诱导多能干细胞中生成神经组织，并将其与新型神经生物墨水结合起来，作为药物筛选的工具。特别是，她的实验室是该领域的国际领导者，因为他们是少数几个拥有Aspect Biosystems RX 1生物打印系统的机构之一，该系统具有Lab-on-a-Printer（LOP）技术。该系统提供了一种新的方法来自动化具有复杂结构和多种类型细胞的生理相关神经组织的工程化过程。脑组织的复杂性质要求在特定结构中精确沉积多种细胞类型，只有Aspect的RX 1生物打印平台及其独特的专利LOP技术才能实现。Willerth实验室是第一个发表如何使用这种独特技术设计活组织的小组，他们继续在这一领域进行开创性的研究。该提议将使真实的时间细胞成像系统的采集能够用于监测3D生物打印组织内部的细胞行为。我们之前的仪器坏了，因此明显且迫切需要更换我们的活细胞成像系统。获得该设备将使Willerth实验室能够通过真实的实时监测其特性来更好地表征其组织培养物，并在这种尖端生物打印技术方面培训高素质的人员。特别是，该系统及其相关软件能够表征来自干细胞的3D生物打印组织的物理，化学和电学特性。她的实验室提供了高质量的培训经验，因为Willerth博士在培训多样化的HQP方面有着良好的记录，因为她被授予2018年REACH本科研究启发教学卓越奖。此外，她目前拥有两项国际交流赠款，用于促进基于她在维多利亚大学独特设施的3D生物打印领域的HQP培训。这些设备将使不同的学生在尖端技术的培训。她的学员还将获得额外的资源，包括干细胞网络，修复发现国际合作和不列颠哥伦比亚省再生医学网络。