Bioengineering the blood-brain barrier
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Glasgow
Department Name: School of Engineering
Abstract
"Blood-brain-barrier (BBB) dysfunction is associated with key neurodegenerative diseases affecting our aging population, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. The BBB consists of specialised endothelial cells (ECs) that are separated by a thin basal lamina from a layer of associated pericytes and astrocytes. Astrocyte secrete cytokines and growth factors that increase the tightness of the endothelial layer.
This project will engineer a novel, simple yet robust in vitro model of the BBB that reproduces the main features of the physiological unit by substituting astrocytes/pericytes by a bioengineered membrane that presents growth factors very efficiently. This would facilitate screening for novel BBB treatments by pharma as well as the investigation of disease mechanisms.
The project is highly multidisciplinary and involves 3D printing, surface functionalisation with proteins and cell biology at the interface with materials.
This project will engineer a novel, simple yet robust in vitro model of the BBB that reproduces the main features of the physiological unit by substituting astrocytes/pericytes by a bioengineered membrane that presents growth factors very efficiently. This would facilitate screening for novel BBB treatments by pharma as well as the investigation of disease mechanisms.
The project is highly multidisciplinary and involves 3D printing, surface functionalisation with proteins and cell biology at the interface with materials.
Organisations
| Description | Cells behave differently depending on how they sense the environment. Scaffolds degradability and stiffness play an important role in cell fate either in 2D and 3D. Cells tend to pull and form stable attachments as the matrix get stiffer and more degradable. Also, we have seen that cellular metabolism activity changes in early stages of cell attachment and proliferation. |
| Exploitation Route | All the findings in this project and the model used would be useful for people in the lab as well as other research groups involved in multiple fields, as regenerative medicine, once all the results are published. It is important to mention that as the project is still active, there are being collaborations with other universities and research groups that will give the project other perspectives and a better development leading to a publication in a journal with high impact. All this might help the group to thrive not only nationally but also internationally. |
| Sectors | Healthcare,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
| Description | Lab demonstrator in University of Glasgow |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | I participated in multiple lab demonstrations with undergraduates studying in the uni. In these lab sessions we showed the students basic lab techniques and provide with the appropriate support to complete the proposed practise. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019,2020 |
| Description | Lab tour |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | We gave a tour around the lab to undergraduate students and show them all the equipment. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Poster presentation at GLORI symposium 2020 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | I had the chance to present my work with a poster what gave the opportunity to receive feedback and new perspectives that helped me to come up with new experiments that can complete the final project. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | School Visit |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | We went to a school where we were able to show pupils from primary school how we usually work in the lab and what is our research area. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Talk at Nanoengineering for Mechanobiology conference 2020 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | I have a talk about my project in the conference. I prepared a 10 min presentation discussing the key results in my project and then I was able to discuss my project with professional people in the field. This helped me to start creating my own networking. Also, I was awarded by EBSA as young investigator. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |