Bioprinting of HUVECs on a microfluidic system in a organ-on-a-chip Architecture

• Grant number: 21/13920-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: August 01, 2022
• End date: July 31, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Interdisciplinary Subjects
• Principal Investigator: Elenice Deffune
• Grantee: Pedro Cavalcante Frizarini
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FMB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The imbalance between supply and demand for organs within the transplant scenario in the world has driven cell engineering techniques that aim with three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting technology to build fully functional and viable substitute tissues and organs for various clinical applications and as study models of health disease. In 3D bioprinting the customization of complex tissue architecture with countless combinations of materials and printing methods to build different tissue types and eventually fully functional replacement organs. The main challenge in maintaining the viability of 3D printed tissue is the inclusion of complex vascular networks for nutrient transport and waste disposal. The rapid development and discoveries in recent years have taken great strides towards improving the incorporation of vascular networks into 3D printed tissues and organs. The objective of this project is to implement protocols that allow advances in the fabrication of vascularized tissues and organs, including new strategies and materials, and their applications in building a microfluidics system to implement 3D vessel culture using the HUVEC strain. The steps include 1. culture the HUVEC line and characterizing it by flow cytometry by CD markers; 2. Identify the contribution of human platelet-derived hormones compared to gold standard culture medium in wound healing model in HUVEC 2D culture; 3. Propose acrylic microchip modeling for use of HUVECs bioprinting in microfluidics system in organ-on-a-chip architecture;4. Construction of bio-ink; 5. Perform human umbilical vein endothelial cell bioprinting (HUVEC) and 6. Simulate physiological blood vessel response in 3D for eNOS monitoring.(AU)