Remote control and stimulation of magnetically augmented cartilaginous organoid swarms as injectables for osteochondral defect regeneration
Description: Recent years have seen a rapid growth in the development of magnetic responsive systems for applications in tissue engineering. Magnetic fields can remotely control and stimulate engineered implants containing magnetic nanoparticles. This technology paves the way for next generation responsive engineered implants whose properties can be influenced remotely in vitro but also post implantation. In my project I will explore the development of a bottom-up magnetically augmented organoid based implant for osteochondral defect regeneration. To that end, a biofabrication process to guide remotely cartilaginous organoid and microgel “swarms” into patterned assemblies will be developed. This process will also be explored in an in vivo setting whereby these populations will be injected and assembled into implants in situ. These implants will be responsive, and I will explore the potential impact of post-operative magnetic stimulation on enhancing osteochondral defect regeneration. Therefore, within this project a next generation engineered living implant with 4D properties will be produced. By developing this methodology, I will not only lay the groundwork for the creation of an externally responsive implant but also steer towards the development of a non-invasive surgical process. Hence, the technology proposed here will pave the way for the production of next-generation Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMPs) for skeletal and osteochondral defect regeneration.
Funder: Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek
Funding type: grant
Funder scheme: FWO Strategic Basic Research Grant
Start date: 2025-11-01
End date: 2029-10-31
Investigators: Dimitrios Lefas, Ioannis Papantoniou
Institution: FWO
Funded outputs count: 0
Funder award ID: 1SA4426N
OpenAlex ID: G4794139390