Characterization of extracellular matrix mimetic hydrogels derived from multiple tissues and their influence on cell behavior

• Grant number: 19/22468-0
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Innovative Research in Small Business - PIPE
• Start date: October 01, 2020
• End date: September 30, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biology
• Principal Investigator: Gabriel Romero Liguori
• Grantee: Gabriel Romero Liguori
• Company: Tissuelabs Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento Ltda
• CNAE: Pesquisa e desenvolvimento experimental em ciências físicas e naturais
• City: São Paulo
• Associated researchers: Emerson Galves Moretto ; Luiz Felipe Pinho Moreira
• Associated research grant: 18/15450-5 - Optimization and standardization of the manufacture of an extracellular matrix mimetic hydrogel for applications in regenerative medicine, tissue engineering and other in vitro studies, AP.PIPE
• Associated scholarship(s): 20/15506-0 - Characterization of extracellular matrix mimetic hydrogels derived from multiple tissues and their influence on cell behavior, BP.PIPE

Abstract

The development of hydrogels for application in regenerative medicine, tissue engineering and in vitro studies that require three-dimensional cell culture has been the focus of intense investment by universities and companies around the world. These hydrogels seek to mimic features of the extracellular matrix environment, such as biochemical clues and biomechanical stimuli. Taking into account the importance of the components of the extracellular matrix of each specific type of tissue, hydrogels derived from decellularized extracellular matrix began to be used with the proposal to provide the cells with a set of properties and signs of the native microenvironment, structurally and biologically, capable of interacting as the matrix itself, supporting and guiding cell adhesion, proliferation and differentiation. During the PIPE Phase 1 project, we optimized and standardized the manufacture of decellularized extracellular matrix hydrogels capable of providing cells with a set of properties and signaling from the native microenvironment, structural and biological, supporting and guiding adhesion, proliferation and cell differentiation. To this end, we developed specialized bioreactors and automated the entire manufacturing process to allow process reproduction on an industrial and standardized scale. Now, to make such hydrogels a commercial product that can be used by any researcher interested in performing three-dimensional cell culture, the present project aims to characterize hydrogels derived from diverse tissues and investigate their influence on cellular behavior. Briefly, we will study hydrogels derived from 14 different tissues: adipose tissue, bone, bone marrow, brain, cartilage, eye (retina), kidney, liver, lung, muscle, myocardium, pancreas, skin and blood vessels. In addition to the biochemical and biomechanical characterization of the hydrogels, their influence on adhesion, viability, proliferation, secretome profile and cell differentiation will be investigated. Based on these results, we hope to create a product line - based on the different tissues studied - for researchers working in various areas of biomedical sciences. (AU)