DEVELOPMENT OF BIOMIMETIC MICROFLUIDIC DEVICE OF IN VITRO BONE REPAIR FOR TISSUE ENGINEERING APPLICATIONS

• Grant number: 23/13737-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• Start date: March 01, 2025
• End date: November 30, 2028
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Dentistry
• Principal Investigator: Katiúcia Batista da Silva Paiva
• Grantee: Icaro Paschoal Brito Ribeiro
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

During bone repair, the main immune cell involved in this process is the macrophage. Macrophages are responsible for the migration of other cell types, such as endothelial cells and resident stem cells, to the site of injury. The critical calvarial defect is a model to study bone repair and there is no in vitro platform for this type of evaluation. An alternative to mimic in vitro conditions are cells in 3D models (such as spheroids) and microfluidics. These two techniques together can simulate the tissue and physiological microenvironment, approaching the results observed in vivo. Therefore, the objective of this project is to develop a biomimetic microfluidic device of critical calvarial defect that simulates in vitro the interactions of different cell types in the context of bone regeneration. Initially, we will evaluate an engineered bone graft (type I collagen, carbonated nanohydroxyapatite and DPSCs spheroids) in critical calvarial defect in nude rats. The chip will contain macrophages, endothelial cells, undifferentiated human dental pulp stem cell (DPSCs) spheroids and a biomimetic clot. Subsequently, the engineered bone graft will be introduced into the system in order to compare with the results obtained in vivo so that modifications can be made to the chip design. With this, we intend to develop the first in vitro bone repair platform with predictive power of clinical outcome.