Speaker
Description
The modular design of tissues is of indispensable importance for proper organ function. Yet, most tissue engineering strategies are based on creating homogeneous tissues, which has limited are capacity to create viable and functional tissues. I will discuss several novel micromaterials and biofabrication strategies we developed to create engineered living matter with modular designs that allow for unprecedented control over cell fate and drive the engineering of functional multiscale tissues. Specifically, we used innovative ultra-high throughput microfluidic droplet/plume generation to fabricate microgels with on-demand tunable biophysical and biochemical properties to controllably program stem cell differentiation along chosen lineages in a temporally controlled manner. These mass produced microgels range from single celled microgels that act as pericellular matrices to multi-celled hollow microgels that acts as organoid forming picoreactors. Microgels were then used to create a variety of advanced bioinks for the biofabrication of engineered living materials with innovative properties, which includes microporous tissues containing high density capillary networks. Moreover, to enable the survival and function of large engineered living matter, we developed a variety of oxygen and nutrient releasing microgels to endow the biofabricated constructs with self-oxygenating and self-feeding properties that allow for the bridging of the prevascular phase. Finally, we have developed several 3D printing techniques including low viscous 3D bioprinting and Xolography to endow engineered constructs with vascular channels. Together this material and technology toolbox allows for unprecedented control over the design and behavior of engineered living matter. In short, I here present several (micro)material and (micro)technology-based concepts that are designed to advance the engineering of multiscale hierarchically organized living matter.
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