BIOFABRICATION TECHNOLOGIES TO INSTRUCT REGENERATION
Event Dates
From: 29/05/2025 12:00
To: 29/05/2025 14:00
External Speaker
Prof. Lorenzo Moroni (Maastricht University, MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht, The Netherlands)
Place
FORTH Seminar Room: C. Fotakis

A key factor in current approaches for tissue and organ regeneration relies on enhancing (stem) cell-material interactions to obtain the same original functionality. Different approaches include delivery of biological factors, functionalization of biological factors onto 3D scaffolds surface, engineering surface properties (e.g. via topography modifications), and controlling bulk and structural chemical and mechanical properties of the cell-laden biomaterial porous constructs that are developed for regeneration. Although these strategies have proved to augment cell activity on biomaterials, they are still characterized by limited control in space and time, which hampers the proper regeneration of complex tissues. Here, we present a few examples where integration of biofabrication platforms allowed the generation of a new library of biological constructs with tailored biological, physicochemical, and mechanical cues at the macro, micro, and nano scale. These biological constructs are characterized by tailored cell-material interactions able to influence the activity of stem cells, thereby sustaining the regeneration of complex tissues. From these examples as well as from the study of other scientists, converging technologies seems to be a powerful route towards designing of biological constructs with instructive properties able to control cell activity for the regeneration of functional tissues. Future efforts should aim at further improving technology integration to achieve a fine control on stem cell fate by biomaterial and scaffolds design at multiple scales. This will enable the regeneration of complex tissues including vasculature and innervation, which will result in enhanced in vivo integration with surrounding tissues. By doing so, the gap from tissue to organ regeneration will be reduced, bringing regenerative medicine technologies closer to the clinics.