Non-destructive characterization of viscoelastic properties of hydrogels and polymers for biomedical applications

ElastosenseBio™（Rheolution Inc.，蒙特利尔）在这个RTI提案中要求的是一种新技术，用于表征材料的粘弹性，特别是可注射聚合物和水凝胶，有和没有封装的活细胞。由于其非破坏性的性质和样品架的使用，可以在每次分析之间取出并放置在培养箱中，该设备允许在长时间内和存在包封细胞的情况下对材料特性进行非侵入性研究。因此，它在生物材料，组织工程，3D生物打印和聚合物领域开辟了非常有趣的研究机会。 该设备将用于ETS的各种计划和正在进行的研究项目，特别是Sophie Lerouge的加拿大生物材料研究主席和Nicole Demarquette的ETS基于热塑性塑料的共混物和纳米复合材料研究主席。Lerouge正在开发和测试新的可注射水凝胶作为药物或细胞递送支架，用于各种应用，包括癌症（T淋巴细胞递送支架），组织再生或血管栓塞。Demarquette正在开发基于热敏聚合物的新混合物，用于药物输送和来自聚合物凝胶的生物医学应用的纳米泡沫。Lerouge和Demarquette也开始与ETS和麦吉尔的其他研究人员合作研究用于3D打印的生物墨水，这要归功于2016年获得的FCI资助。 该设备将用于在短时间或长时间（数小时、数天或甚至数周）内跟踪胶凝、聚合、生物降解或包囊细胞产生细胞外基质期间的机械性能和溶胀/收缩。与现有技术相比，ElastosenseBio能够在不接触（保持无菌性）和不损坏样品的情况下实现这一点，从而允许在整个研究过程中使用相同的样品。这很重要，因为这些样本可能非常昂贵。 该设备在加拿大尚未上市。由于Lerouge的几个资助项目需要该技术来实现其目标，以及在2017年初收购3D生物打印系统，因此收购该技术是紧迫的。这也将是行业合作和HQP培训的关键。在3年内，我们相信这些设备将有利于至少2名PDF，4名博士，5名MSC和8名实习生以及所有外部用户的工作。

The ElastosenseBio™ (Rheolution Inc., Montreal) requested in this RTI proposal is a new technology for the characterization of viscoelastic properties of materials, especially injectable polymers and hydrogels, with and without encapsulated live cells. Thanks to its non-destructive nature and the use of sample holders, which can be removed and placed in an incubator between each analysis, the equipment allows non-invasive study of material properties over long periods of time and in the presence of encapsulated cells. It therefore opens up very interesting research opportunities in the fields of biomaterials, tissue engineering, 3D bioprinting and polymers in general. The equipment will be used in various planned and ongoing research projects at ETS, especially at Sophie Lerouge’s Canada Research Chair in biomaterials and at Nicole Demarquette’s ETS Research Chair on Blends and Nanocomposites based on Thermoplastics. Lerouge is developing and testing new injectable hydrogels as drug or cell delivery scaffolds for various applications including cancer (scaffolds for T lymphocyte delivery), tissue regeneration or blood vessel embolization. Demarquette is developing new blends based on thermosensitive polymers for use in drug delivery and nano-foams for biomedical applications derived from polymeric gels. Lerouge and Demarquette are also beginning research on bioinks for 3D printing in collaboration with other researchers from ETS and McGill, thanks to a FCI grant obtained in 2016. The equipment will be used to track mechanical properties and swelling/contraction during gelation, polymerization, biodegradation or extracellular matrix production by encapsulated cells, over short or long periods of time (several hours, days or even weeks). In contrast to existing technologies, ElastosenseBio is able to achieve this without contact (maintaining sterility) and without damaging the sample, thus allowing use of the same samples throughout the study. This is important since these samples can be very expensive. The equipment is not yet available in Canada. Acquiring the technology is urgent due to several funded projects from Lerouge which need the technology to achieve their aims, as well as the acquisition of the 3D bioprinting system in early 2017. It will also be key for industrial collaborations and HQP training. Within 3 years, we believe that the equipment will be beneficial to the work of at least 2 PDF, 4 PhD, 5 MSC and 8 interns, plus all external users.