Speaker
Description
Organoids (self-assembled 3D tissue structures from a cluster of cells) can be used for patient-specific drug testing or for the generation of larger tissue constructs, which can in turn be used as implants to restore and/or replace damaged tissue. For cartilage, human chondrocytes, both healthy and diseased (derived from patients with osteoarthritis (OA)), show the potential to self-assemble into organoid structures. However, these organoids do not show the distinct collagen architecture that is needed to withstand the loading conditions in joints. Recently, the convergence of self-assembled equine articular cartilage-derived progenitor cells (eACPCs), which were stimulated with BMP-9 to increase the rate of matrix formation, with micrometer-scale reinforcing PCL fibres (made with melt electrowriting (MEW)) shows the potential to create abundant cartilage-like tissue while providing a mechanical support structure that is capable of withstanding in vivo loading conditions. We envision that the convergence of reinforcing technologies, such as MEW, with the human OA-derived organoids allows us to tackle the challenges of the availability of cell sources and limited mechanical properties of implants and with that steers towards patient-specific implants.
31451702964
