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TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
The Center's Technology Research and Development Projects (TR&Ds) are meant to catalyze advances in tissue engineering and foster its integration into a mature and well-rounded scientific field with strong impacts on regenerative medicine and modeling of disease. We propose to achieve this ambitious vision through the operation of three interactive TR&Ds:
TR&D 1: Adaptive-responsive biomaterials will focus on biomaterials with adaptive control that can sense, and actuate cells to drive the functional restoration of tissue structures, in vitro and in vivo, in response to biological signals. Specifically, we will focus on Biomaterials that dynamically change properties in response to biological recognition events (Aim 1), Biomaterials serving as reporters of biological events (Aim 2) and Smart scaffolds for tissue regeneration and modeling of disease (Aim 3).
3D Printing of Silk Protein Structures by Aqueous Solvent-Directed Molecular Assembly
TR&D 2: Imaging enabled bioreactor systems will focus on bioreactors with optical control, sensing, and feedback-based actuation of engineered tissues, with precise spatiotemporal visualization, actuation and confirmation of biological events. These systems will allow for the automation and optimization of tissue culture systems capable of rapidly screening many parameters in a variety of contexts. TERC renewal will develop a suite of deployable imaging-enabled micro-bioreactors with sustained generation and circulation of immune cells: Plug-and-play bioreactors (Aim 1), Cardiac bioreactor (Aim 2) and Synovial joint bioreactor (Aim 3).
Quantification of human neuromuscular function through optogenetics
TR&D 3: Translational Technologies will be focused on enabling the most promising technologies for tissue/organ regeneration and modeling diseases to translate into the commercial and clinical applications. TERC renewal will focus on biologically inspired bioreactors for modeling and treating injury and disease, spanning from microtissues linked by vascular flow to whole organs ex vivo. Specifically, we will build Integrated bioreactor system for lung regeneration (Aim 1), Cancer patient on a chip (Aim 2) and Multi-functional biosensor module for real-time tissue assessment (Aim 3).
Cross-circulation for extracorporeal support and recovery of injured lungs.