3D tissue engineering with stem cells

Project Summary

The Materials & Devices for Life Sciences tissue engineering team is developing 3D tissues fabricated from patient-derived stem cells. These 3D living tissues will be used for disease modelling and, in the longer term, for implantation to repair damaged tissues.

We have developed droplet 3D-printing and microfluidic techniques for the construction of patterned 3D tissues. Combined with methods for stem cell differentiation, these approaches will allow the fabrication of patterned 3D neural, cardiac and vascularised tissues containing multiple physiologically-relevant cell types. Tissues carrying patients’ mutations will be fabricated to investigate disease mechanisms and test new therapeutics. The tissues will also be implanted into rodents to test their ability to replace or repair damaged tissue.

Advisors

• Dr Linna Zhou (Group Leader, EIT)
• Professor Hagan Bayley (Principal Scientist, EIT & Professor of Chemical Biology, University of Oxford)

Skills Recommended

• A 4-year undergraduate degree (or equivalent) in a relevant scientific discipline (e.g., Biology, Bioengineering, Chemistry, Physiology).
• Research experience with skills in laboratory techniques and data analysis, ideally in areas such as cell culture, molecular biology and DNA and RNA sequence analysis.
• Strong self-motivation and enthusiasm for research in a dynamic and evolving field.
• Clear and effective communication skills, written and verbal, with an interest in working across disciplines.

University DPhil Courses 

• DPhil from the University of Oxford

Relevant Literature

• Zhou, L., Wolfes, A.C., Li, Y., Chen, D.C.W., Ko, H., Szele, F.G. and Bayley, H. Lipid bilayer supported 3D printing of human cerebral cortex cells reveals developmental interactions. Advanced Materials 32, e2002183 (2020).
• Jin, Y., Mikhailova, E., Lei, M., Cowley, S., Sun, T., Yang, X., Zhang, Y., Liu, K., Catarino, D., Campos Soares, L., Bandiera, S., Szele, F.G., Molnar, Z., Zhou, L. and Bayley, H. Integration of 3D-printed cerebral cortical tissue into a lesioned brain slice. Nature Communications 14, 5986 (2023).

‍