Project Portugal 2030

Summary

3DNeuroStim aims to develop novel tissue engineering strategies employing 3D bioprinting of a cell-laden amniotic membrane-derived scaffold and a specialized electrical stimulation device to advance neural tissue engineering. The specific objectives are: 1. Develop a bioink using functionalized decellularized extracellular matrix (ECM) derived from human amniotic membrane (AM) tissue. 2. Optimise bioink loading conditions with neural stem cells (NSC) to ensure optimal cell viability and functionality. 3. Refine bioprinting methods to create a cell-laden scaffold with precise and reproducible geometry suitable for neural tissue engineering applications. 4. Adjust the 3D electrical stimulation device with integrated graphene-based electrodes and finetune the stimulation parameters for efficient, high-quality, and electrophysiologically relevant 3D neural cell cultures. 5. Conduct comprehensive in vitro studies to validate neural cellular responses to 3D electrical stimulation, providing consistent and accurate data relevant to the target application. Fulfilling these objectives will advance the team’s expertise in treating neurological injuries and disorders. Additionally, it will validate and enhance proprietary products: the modified AM ECM by Metatissue, and the 3D ES device by Graphenest and Uaveiro. This research supports the development and growth of the involved companies, fostering innovation and economic advancement in the biotech industry while enriching knowledge in neural tissue engineering.