The Design of a Responsive Growth Factor Expressing Bio-ink
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Bristol
Department Name: Physics
Abstract
This research project is focused on the development of a smart microporous biological 3D printable ink (bioink) that can be used in both in vitro and in vivo tissue engineering. The structural component of the bioink is a viscoelastic hydrogel that has a highly tuneable temperature-dependent phase transition. In practice, this allows it to be extruded from nozzles (e.g., a needle) as a liquid at room temperature, which subsequently transforms into a self-supporting hydrogel at body temperature. Housed within this biomaterial-based hydrogel, is a cell-free expression system, which can be developed to produce growth factors that are essential for bone healing. Significantly, the delivery of these factors will be controlled using transcription regulation, such that the growth factor expression levels can be systematically modulated. The resulting smart bioink will be 3D printed in the presence of mesenchymal stem cells to control differentiation. This method of stem cell differentiation stimulation into osteoblasts has potential as a powerful technique in tissue engineering research and as a clinical tool for bone fracture repair.
Planned Impact
The Bristol Centre for Functional Nanomaterials (BCFN) will strengthen its position as the leading UK Centre for Doctoral Training in the design, characterisation and exploitation of functional materials, with a community of more than 50 students and 100 researchers across the Physical Sciences, Engineering and Life Sciences of the University of Bristol. In delivering impact, the key underpinning strength of the BFCN programme will be in the training of truly adaptive interdisciplinary scientists, able to facilitate both fundamental and applied knowledge in academia and industry, and engage in stakeholder dialogue on all levels.
The International Scientific community: The research output of the BCFN community is already internationally-leading.
From 2014, the BCFN will lead the setting up of an International Nanomaterials Network of global centres with the BCFN as
the hub. As our partners attest, this network will achieve a sustainable impact of shared student activities, training, and joint supervision of research, with all the associated benefits of citations and mobility. It will enhance individual BCFN students' effectiveness and employability.
The UK science community: Our ongoing development of online modules, the BCFN Portal, and skills tracking tools will
have a major impact. As the statements from Springer-Verlag and Learning Science Ltd. demonstrate, we will extend and
commercialize these tools, transforming them into a graduate online training resource, enhancing the training of scientists
in advanced techniques for materials internationally. The UK research base in material science will be a major beneficiary
of the BCFN activities. The BCFN has promoted interdisciplinary research projects in a broad range of topics ranging from
functional materials for energy conversion, catalysis and medicine, to the physics of life. To deliver impact in these crucial
areas, the BCFN will engage with other CDTs, research hubs and grand challenge networks.
University of Bristol: The University of Bristol is setting up the Bristol Doctoral College (BDC). This development has arisen,
in part, through the leadership and innovation of Dr. Terry McMaster, BCFN Director. We are actively reshaping the nature and extent of graduate training, particularly in the skills domain, across the academic spectrum of Bristol.
Industrial Partners: The impact of BCFN research activity is proven by the wide range of companies (SME to multi-national)
who are making cash and in-kind contributions: Syngenta, AstraZeneca, HP, BASF, LMAT, Sasol, Heinz (see Statements
of Support). Our future impact, as judged by industrial partners, will range from employees, co-creation of training modules,
co-publications, short-term consultancy work, to full studentship support. Strategic impacts include a framework IP
agreement (HP and the University of Bristol), and the use of the BCFN BRIDGE scheme to unlock future research
framework funding (see Syngenta and Sasol statements). We will continue to employ our Industrial Training Modules
and look to roll out both this and the BRIDGE model. The BCFN Industrial Research Fellow provides a unique conduit for industry, and will ensure that the BCFN has impact as a solution provider across time scales. The IRF will coordinate our outputs with KTNs, TSB, and iNets to maximum effect.
Societal Impact: From 2014, we will build sustainable strategic partnerships with regional school networks, in addition to
ongoing student activity. As Dr. Paul Hill confirms in his Statement of Support, we are poised to be a hub for best practice,
and to train students, school teachers and pupils to influence public opinion in the arena of functional materials.
The International Scientific community: The research output of the BCFN community is already internationally-leading.
From 2014, the BCFN will lead the setting up of an International Nanomaterials Network of global centres with the BCFN as
the hub. As our partners attest, this network will achieve a sustainable impact of shared student activities, training, and joint supervision of research, with all the associated benefits of citations and mobility. It will enhance individual BCFN students' effectiveness and employability.
The UK science community: Our ongoing development of online modules, the BCFN Portal, and skills tracking tools will
have a major impact. As the statements from Springer-Verlag and Learning Science Ltd. demonstrate, we will extend and
commercialize these tools, transforming them into a graduate online training resource, enhancing the training of scientists
in advanced techniques for materials internationally. The UK research base in material science will be a major beneficiary
of the BCFN activities. The BCFN has promoted interdisciplinary research projects in a broad range of topics ranging from
functional materials for energy conversion, catalysis and medicine, to the physics of life. To deliver impact in these crucial
areas, the BCFN will engage with other CDTs, research hubs and grand challenge networks.
University of Bristol: The University of Bristol is setting up the Bristol Doctoral College (BDC). This development has arisen,
in part, through the leadership and innovation of Dr. Terry McMaster, BCFN Director. We are actively reshaping the nature and extent of graduate training, particularly in the skills domain, across the academic spectrum of Bristol.
Industrial Partners: The impact of BCFN research activity is proven by the wide range of companies (SME to multi-national)
who are making cash and in-kind contributions: Syngenta, AstraZeneca, HP, BASF, LMAT, Sasol, Heinz (see Statements
of Support). Our future impact, as judged by industrial partners, will range from employees, co-creation of training modules,
co-publications, short-term consultancy work, to full studentship support. Strategic impacts include a framework IP
agreement (HP and the University of Bristol), and the use of the BCFN BRIDGE scheme to unlock future research
framework funding (see Syngenta and Sasol statements). We will continue to employ our Industrial Training Modules
and look to roll out both this and the BRIDGE model. The BCFN Industrial Research Fellow provides a unique conduit for industry, and will ensure that the BCFN has impact as a solution provider across time scales. The IRF will coordinate our outputs with KTNs, TSB, and iNets to maximum effect.
Societal Impact: From 2014, we will build sustainable strategic partnerships with regional school networks, in addition to
ongoing student activity. As Dr. Paul Hill confirms in his Statement of Support, we are poised to be a hub for best practice,
and to train students, school teachers and pupils to influence public opinion in the arena of functional materials.