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

这个PFI: AIR技术翻译项目专注于将多尺度注射成型技术应用于生物研究，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许多关于细胞如何表现和对其环境的反应的重要发现。这些发现极大地改变了研究人员对细胞生长方式的看法；然而，反映这方面知识的商业产品很少，这可能在从体外受精（IVF）到用于药物测试的疾病模型开发等应用中造成瓶颈。该项目将产生一系列细胞培养基质原型，旨在改善目前工业中使用的传统扁平聚苯乙烯表面的细胞生长和发育。这些原型将用于大批量生产，以确保生物医学领域的商业用途和成本效益。该项目解决了以下技术差距，因为它从研究发现转化为商业应用。首先，用于微/纳米尺度多尺度成型的传统硅模具成本过高。其次，具有低微米到纳米尺度特征的注塑聚合物器件的大批量制造目前受到诸如模具寿命和制造稳健性等因素的限制。第三，为了未来的商业化，需要对这些产品有一个强大的体外细胞反应。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。大批量生产的模具将使用大块金属玻璃模具生产，模具的稳健性将在此基础上进行分析。聚合物流变性将通过多种方式进行控制，以确保特征的一致性和可重复性。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，以确定下一阶段的商业化努力。此外，参与该项目的人员，包括一名研究生和一个由本科生/高中生组成的团队，将通过开发设计、与潜在客户交谈以及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.