3D bioprinter for fundamental and applied biomaterials research

该申请旨在为3D生物打印机提供资金，用于生物材料科学领域的基础和应用研究。它将用于开发有关生物材料在体内的功能和性能的基础知识。它还将用于制造具有广泛应用的生物材料，包括伤口敷料，用于细胞培养的各向异性支架，皮肤移植物，眼睛模型，人工骨髓组织和用于癌症类器官生长的支架。 所要求的基于挤出的3D生物打印机将能够从聚合物溶液、熔体、悬浮液和水凝胶（包括载有细胞的墨水）中制造生物材料。申请人小组定期和及时地访问3D生物打印机将提供关于墨水特性和成分的反馈信息。这些反馈将用于新油墨配方的开发和现有油墨配方的优化。此外，通过3D打印不同组织的体外模型，拟议的研究将有助于显着减少动物试验。*** 所要求的设备是迫切需要的五个合作者，在聚合物和材料化学，纳米科学，生物物理学，生物工程和制药科学的接口进行创新研究。在申请人的部门中不存在仪器，这将使得生物材料合成和制造能够由3D打印过程提供的反馈指导。缺乏这种设备会延误材料合成和制造的决策过程，并阻碍国家能源和环境研究中心资助项目的进展。 要求的设备是最先进的3D生物打印机CellInk BIO X。它将被来自5个研究小组的20多名博士后和学生每天多次使用。学员将在未来的职业生涯中使用所获得的知识和技能来开发新产品或进行基础研究。多学科培训将培养未来的科学家，工程师和企业家。申请人将尽一切努力确保其研究团队的多样性和培训计划的包容性。 通过定期和及时地使用3D生物打印机，申请人在生物材料科学领域取得重大进展的能力将得到极大的提高。*****

This application seeks funding for a 3D bioprinter for fundamental and applied research in the field of biomaterials science. It will be used for developing fundamental knowledge about biomaterials' function and performance in vivo. It will be also used for fabricating biomaterials with a broad range of applications, including wound dressings, anisotropic scaffolds for cell culture, skin grafts, models for the eye, artificial bone marrow tissue, and scaffolds for growth of cancer organoids.*** The requested extrusion-based 3D bioprinter will enable fabrication of biomaterials from polymer solutions, melts, suspensions, and hydrogels, including cell-laden inks. Regular and timely access of the applicants' groups to the 3D bioprinter will provide feedback information on ink properties and compositions. This feedback will be used for the development of new and optimization of existing ink formulations. Furthermore, with 3D printed in vitro models of different tissues, the proposed research will help to significantly reduce animal testing. *** The requested equipment is urgently needed by five collaborators that perform innovative research at the interface of polymer and materials chemistry, nanoscience, biophysics, bioengineering, and pharmaceutical sciences. No instrumentation exists in the applicants' departments, which would enable biomaterials synthesis and fabrication that are guided by the feedback provided by 3D printing process. The absence of such equipment delays the decision-making process in materials synthesis and fabrication and hampers progress in NSERC-funded projects.*** The requested equipment is a state of the art 3D bioprinter, CellInk BIO X. It will be used multiple times daily by >20 postdocs and students from 5 research groups. Trainees will use the acquired knowledge and skills in their future careers to develop new products or perform fundamental research. Multidisciplinary training will prepare future scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs. The applicants will make every effort to ensure the diversity of their research teams and inclusivity of their training programs.*** With regular and timely access to 3D bioprinter, the ability of the applicants to make significant advances in the biomaterials science field will be strongly enhanced. *****