Engineered three dimensional tissue-equivalents

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The focus of this Discovery Grant Program is the engineering, and characterization of the structure-property relationship of dense, tissue-like collagenous matrices developed as in vitro models, and as scaffolds for the regeneration of hard and soft tissues. In particular this program will fabricate novel anisotropic injectable and printable dense collagen gels with highly defined collagen fibrillar densities and alignments through the use of the newly developed gel aspiration-ejection technique. This technique not only has the ability to control the cellular microenvironment, but can also be scaled-up for the rapid high throughput production of an array of in vitro tissue models for uses in stem cell, toxicology, oncology and neuroscience research and screening. Moreover, when gel aspiration-ejection is applied to cellular scaffolds, cell viability is maintained and the constructs provide a supportive environment for long term cultures to investigate the effects of biochemical and biomechanical cues on tissue maturation. Therefore, the program will continue to generate a number of novel findings on collagenous scaffolds, identifying the roles of various chemical and mechanical cues that impact the functions of both the matrix and three-dimensionally seeded cells aimed at bone tissue engineering, vascularization of tissues, and soft tissue modelling and regeneration. The method is also ideal for generating hybridized scaffolds through the incorporation of other biopolymers or bioinorganics controllably released from so-gel derived soluble and bioactive glasses. The Discovery Grant Program will continue to provide a rich and dynamic environment for the multidisciplinary training of highly qualified personnel. In the previous program six Ph.D. and two M.Eng. students completed their studies. The program will also serve as a platform for innovative technologies that will significantly contribute to tissue engineering, biomaterials development, and to understanding cellular responses to tuneable three dimensional tissue models. Four technologies underwent patent protection applications during the previous program. These have enabled a number of links to be established with glass producing industries, companies targeting medical device and pharma applications as well as research tools and equipment manufacturers, which are expected to grow.