Biomaterials

Team :

The biomaterials represent a very important tool in cell therapy approach. In tissue engineering biomaterials are utilized to supply a mechanical support for cell growth and tissue formation. The biomaterials are designed to provide a microenvironment suitable for stem cell proliferation and differentiation.
The aim of this project is to investigate the application of biomaterials in the differentiation and transplantation of hES cells in vitro, ex-vivo and in vivo models. 
In stem cell transplantation, the interactions between cells is a critical step.  For this reason, our vitro study is focused on generation of a tissue-like structure with hES cells.
 
Ex vivo models such as organotypic slice cultures, derived from explants of various anatomical origins, as brain, liver, heart, permit direct experimental access to grafted cell integration, and migration (Fig 1). 
The study of transplantation of stem cells seeded in the matrices polysaccharides will allow us to optimize the conditions for in vivo applications.

Fig 1.  Stereomicroscopic view of rat heart slice transplanted with hES cells via 3D- matrice.