iP-OSTEO: Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells for Bone and Cartilage Defects – Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells for Bone and Cartilage Defects

Overview

The aim of the iP-Osteo project is to develop hybrid materials for regeneration of the large osteochondral defects in elderly people. The aim will be achieved by developing the active scaffolds that can attract the cells to the defect site needed the regeneration. To enable the regeneration of both bone and cartilage, bilayer scaffolds will be made. The first scaffold layer will be made my electrospinning of biodegradable polymers and active molecules promoting the bone regeneration. The scaffolds will be optimized to have the needed composition, pore size and mechanical properties. The scaffolds will then be combined with hydrogels optimized for cartilage regeneration. To enable effective healing of the tissue in patients with reducing regeneration capacity (elderly patients), active molecules will be encapsulated in both fibers and particles. The time-regulated release of the active molecules will lead to faster and more complete healing.

Key Objectives

The key objective of the iP-OSTEO project is to promote the collaboration and knowledge transfer between the researchers working in the area of regenerative medicine and nanomaterials for regenerative medicine. This will be achieved while developing novel cell-based scaffolds for bone and cartilage repair in patients with poor regenerative capacity (e.g. elderly patients). Scaffolds developed during the project will combine the state of the art materials, cells and bioactive molecules and will be manufactured into composite structures optimised to promote the regeneration of both bone and cartilage. The key objective will be achieved through continuous collaboration of academic and industrial institutions working in the fields of biomaterials, cell culture, drug delivery systems, bioreactors, and microfluidics. Continuous exchange between the institutions will ensure effective cooperation and knowledge transfer and will lead to the accelerated developement of the state-of-the-art regenerative materials.

Specific Technological Objectives

Develop hybrid electrospun materials for bone tissue regeneration. For bone tissue engineering scaffolds should have large pores (micrometers), be heavily doped with inorganic materials promoting bone tissue formation (e.g. hydroxyapatite), and stimulate the regeneration by sustained release of active molecules.
Develop drug delivery systems based on electrospun core-shell materials, electrosprayed particles and/or spray-dried particles. For promoting the regeneration, growth factors and other active molecules will be encpasulated for their sustained and regulated release. Multiple encapsulation technologies will be tested such as electrospinning and electrospraying of core shell nanomaterials and low-temperature spray drying.
Develop hybrid hydrogels for cartilage regeneration. Classical hydrogel based scaffolds will be combined with electrospun, electrosprayed, and/or spray dried drug delivery systems. The combination of the electrospun materials and hydrogels should also lead to the improved mechanical properties of traditional hydrogels. Combination of the hydrogels with drug delivery systems will lead to the active scaffolds that will promote cartilage regeneration even in patients with low regenerative capacity.
Develop bioreactors for continuous and automated cell culture. Cell culture cell with multiple well will be made and combined with the automated perfusion bioreactor developed during the project. The system will allow for the highly automated experiment work-flow that will reduce the variability of the experiments leading to a more reliable results.