Development of microparticle-based hidrogels for organoid culture: a new tool for Functional Precision Medicine and drug development

• Grant number: 25/07380-0
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Innovative Research in Small Business - PIPE
• Start date: April 01, 2026
• End date: December 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Interdisciplinary Subjects
• Principal Investigator: Luciana Harumi Osaki
• Grantee: Luciana Harumi Osaki
• Principal investigators: Maria Helena Andrade Santana
• Associated researchers: Tiago Góss dos Santos ; Vilma Regina Martins

Abstract

Patient-derived organoids from three-dimensionally (3D) organized cells that mimic human tissues at the morphological, genomic, and functional levels hold significant scientific and biotechnological relevance. These structures have particularly promising applications in regenerative medicine, functional precision medicine, and in the generation of human disease models for use in preclinical drug discovery assays. The primary cause of failure in clinical trials is efficacy, largely due to the limitations of preclinical models. Initiatives such as the Human Cancer Models Initiative, led by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), aims to enhance the success rate of drug development by utilizing organoids/tumoroids, thereby replacing and/or reducing the use of animal models in research. The generation of organoids and tumoroids relies on scaffolds that mimic the functionalities, composition and stiffness of the extracellular matrix (ECM) within tissues. Currently, products such as Matrigel® and similar biogels are purified from ECM extracts of Engelbreth-Holm-Swarm (EHS) mouse tumors. However, these materials exhibit significant batch-to-batch variability in composition, mechanical and biochemical properties, and the presence of xenocontaminants. Such limitations compromise experimental reproducibility, impacting cellular behavior and biological outcomes. Additionally, the cost of Matrigel® and its analogs is among the highest of all reagents used in this technology, and its market availability may be disrupted, as was the case during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, when distribution was prioritized in the USA, directly affecting research in Brazil. The development of synthetic scaffolds is therefore essential to provide highly efficient, reproducible, and cost-effective solutions with broader availability, addressing the growing demand in the global organoid market. In 2022, this market was valued between USD 1-3 billion, with projections estimating growth to USD 3-15 billion by 2030, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 18-22% (Vantage Market Research and The Insight Partners). Within this context, NANOBIOPLUS, a leading company in biopolymers and bioprocesses, and ALJAVA BIOTECH, an expert in patient-derived organoid/tumoroid generation and functional precision medicine, have established a strategic partnership. The objective is to produce, characterize, and validate the technical and economic feasibility of innovative matrices based on hyaluronic acid (HA) hydrogel microparticles for 3D cell culture. HA, a natural component of the ECM, plays a crucial role in cellular signaling and adhesion in three-dimensional environments. Its controlled degradability allows for dynamic remodeling, mimicking ECM behavior. In addition to its biocompatibility, HA enables chemical modifications to fine-tune the rheological properties of its hydrogels such as stiffness, promoting enhanced cell-cell and cell-ECM interactions. The microparticle-based structure facilitates nutrient diffusion, cellular migration through interstitial spaces, and the incorporation of bioactive molecules such as peptides, growth factors and fibrin, fostering a more functional and physiologically relevant 3D cellular organization. This proposal will contribute to the establishment of Geltech3D, a company dedicated to the development of innovative solutions for 3D cellular models. By strengthening its competitiveness in both national and global markets, the company aims to drive more effective therapies for patients with cancer and other diseases. (AU)