FCT Funding Projects

Coordination of project funded by Portuguese Foundation

 

Tetrissue

Bioinspired Tile-Matching To Create Ultrastructured Bone Microtissues In A Close-To-Native Fashion

Period: 28-03-2021 – 27-04-2024

Funding Scheme: FCT – PTDC/BTM-MAT/3201/2020

Coordination: Sara Nadine – University of Aveiro

Description:

The driving force behind TETRISSUE is inspired in the fundamentals of the native bone regenerative process and supported by a strong technological character to produce highly vascularized ultrastructured bone replacements. Its innovative character is mainly related with the integration of key elements working in tandem: (1) bioinstructive microplatforms will guide mesenchymal stem cell (MSCs) chondrogenesis and will originate (2) chondrogenic biotiles as endochondral ossification cartilaginous templates, which will be encapsulated with freely dispersed endothelial and extra MSCs in (3) liquefied capsules, aiming at developing an injectable and in situ strategy upon combination with (4) human-based pre-hydrogels, enriched with specific biomolecules and growth factors that will enable the recruitment of host vessels. This innovative approach should bring bone tissue engineering up to the standard of care in regenerative medicine.

 

CellFi

Advancing The Regenerative and Translational Potential Of Cellular Fibers

Period: 01-03-2021 – 29-02-2024

Funding Scheme: FCT – PTDC/BTM-ORG/3215/2020

Coordination: Mariana Oliveira – University of Aveiro

Description:

CellFi aims at exploiting all-cellular fibers and respective production technology reported by the COMPASS RG (CICECO, UA) towards the application of these biological structures as easier-to-handle and robust regenerative adjuvants for ischemic tissue, while implementing safer and clinically compliant production methods. To accomplish these objectives the CellFi project focus on the following objectives: (i) fabrication of all-cellular hASCs fibers in xeno-free conditions, (ii) improvement of structural features of, including length and robustness, to enable cell fibers incorporation in printing and suturing strategies, (iii) improvement of the immunoregulatory and angiogenic potential of these fibers, as well as of their survival ability in ischemia-mimetic conditions, and (iv) validating the effectiveness of these living structures as therapeutic agents for ischemic scenarios.

 

O2Cells

Hybrid living bioengineered hierarchical constructs with self-oxygenating capability

Period: 01-02-2023 – 31-01-2026

Funding Scheme: FCT – 2022.04237.PTDC

Coordination: Prof. João F. Mano – University of Aveiro

Description:

O2Cells intends to be the cutting-edge of a new generation of advanced devices by: (i) exploring natural-based biomaterials for this bottom-up bioengineering process that will combine self-oxygenating microalgae and tissue progenitor cells in original multiscale structural arrangements tuned to stimulate the regeneration of high-quality vascularised microtissue in a symbiotic system; (ii) combine these ingredients in well designed multi-scale devices with precisely tune macro-architectures where cells could freely assemble under the effect of adequate mechanical and biochemical signals.