Non-Contact Investigation of the Viscoelastic Properties of Extracellular Matrix-Derived Gels for Therapeutic Applications in Cardiac and Parenchymal Tissues

PROJECT COST:

425 802 $

PRIMA CONTRIBUTION:

191 802 $

PROJECT DETAILS:

The healthcare field, particularly surgery and regenerative medicine, requires biomaterials that support the migration, retention, and proliferation of healthy cells originating from the patient’s surrounding tissues. When formulated as gels or hydrogels, these biomaterials function as scaffold structures. A current frontier in this area lies in the cellularization of such scaffolds through the successful integration of living cells.

Professor Diego Mantovani aims to: (i) design a novel sample holder and establish a method for the characterization of cellularized gels; (ii) optimize gel composition using the sample holder developed by Rheolution and validated under the first objective; and (iii) investigate the potential of these optimized gels for the development of a new in vitro model.

The characterization of cellularized samples will enable the development of implantable gels designed to regenerate and restore the function of diseased tissues.

The bioengineering community stands to benefit in two keyways: (i) through the development of a novel platform for advanced viscoelastic characterization, and (ii) via standardized methodologies enabling the design and optimization of cellularized hydrogels from natural polymers for regenerative medicine.

This research, combined with the high-quality training provided by the candidate teams and their extensive supervisory expertise, will offer a unique opportunity to cultivate five highly qualified personnel (HQP): one doctoral student, one master’s student, two postdoctoral fellows, and one undergraduate researcher.

Rheolution is confident that this project will transform the application landscape of its analytical tools, enabling new opportunities by accelerating the development of in vitro assays capable of replacing in vivo testing.

This project represents a unique opportunity for TissueGraft to extend its field of application to the field of 3D cell culture biotechnology, which has the potential to revolutionize the pharmaceutical screening approach for drug testing and development. Montreal and the province of Quebec represent a solid and mature environment for such an investment.