Tunable hyaluronic acid-based bioink platform for controlled differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (A02)

• Subject Area: Biomaterials
• Term: since 2018
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 326998133

Hyaluronic acid (HA) represents a major component of the human extracellular matrix. The overall aim of this project is to develop a HA-based bioink platform utilizing multifunctional crosslinkers (PEG, modified biopolymers) that enables the controlled differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells. Advanced biofunctionalization with particulate drug delivery devices and flexible covalent binding of growth factors and small molecule drugs including generation of gradients will further promote the development of coherent tissues within the printed constructs and enable the creation of clinically relevant tissue models.

• DFG Programme: CRC/Transregios
• Subproject of: TRR 225: From the Fundamentals of Biofabrication towards Functional Tissue Models
• Applicant Institution: Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg
• Project Heads: Professor Dr. Torsten Blunk; Dr. Jörg Teßmar