A Multiplex Assembly Platform for Bioprinted Layer-By-Layer Mini-Tissues to study cell-cell interactions in 3D using High-Throughput live imaging techniques

Dr. Simon Ameer-Beg (primary)
School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences
King’s College London
Dr. Andrea Serio (secondary)
Tissue engineering & Biophotonics
King's College London

Abstract

This project will combine bioprinting, advanced imaging technologies and bioengineering techniques to complex scalable arrays of mini-tissues adapted for 3D imaging techniques. We will use 3D bioprinting to create complex patterns of cell populations on permeable polymer meshes, which will form the single layers of our mini-tissues, and characterise them using 3D imaging techniques. We will then be able assemble the single layers into complex 3D tissue-like constructs and image the interaction between the different cellular populations and patterns. This system will allow to study both cell-behaviour and cell responses to drugs within complex 3D multicellular constructs with defined architecture.


References

Hall CE, Yao Z, Choi M, Tyzack GE, Serio A, Luisier R, Harley J, Preza E, Arber C, Crisp SJ, Watson PMD, Kullmann DM, Abramov AY, Wray S, Burley R, Loh SHY, Martins LM, Stevens MM, Luscombe NM, Sibley C, Lakatos A, Ule J, Gandhi S, Patani R. ‘Progressive motor neuron pathology and the role of astrocytes in a human stem cell model of VCP-related ALS’. Cell Reports 2017
Serio, A. et al. Astrocyte pathology and the absence of non-cell autonomy in an induced pluripotent stem cell model of TDP-43 proteinopathy. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 110, 4697–4702 (2013).
Faulkner-Jones, A. et al. Bioprinting of human pluripotent stem cells and their directed differentiation into hepatocyte-like cells for the generation of mini-livers in 3D. Biofabrication 7, 044102–14 (2015).
Devauges V, Matthews D, Aluko J, Nedbal J, Levitt J, Poland S, Coban O, Weitsman G, Monypenny J, Ng T, Ameer-Beg S (2014)
Steady-state acceptor fluorescence anisotropy imaging under evanescent excitation for visualisation of FRET at the plasma membrane. PLoS ONE, 9(10):e110695.


BBSRC Area
Genes, development and STEM* approaches to biology
Area of Biology
BiotechnologyCell Biology
Techniques & Approaches
EngineeringMicroscopy / ElectrophysiologyMolecular Biology