Reporter bioinks and particles for online detection of protease activity (B06)

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

Real-time monitoring of proteolytic processes is essential for understanding cellular performance in 3D bioprinted tissue models. The project aims to develop and apply protease reporter peptides for selected proteases upregulated in cancer tissues. We will implement quenched peptide reporters for fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET)- based turn-on fluorescence analysis and tandem mass tags (TMTs) to enable multiple readouts by mass spectrometry. Peptide reporters will be provided on different platforms (soluble, particle, bio ink conjugated) and analyzed for their proteolytic performances within various bioprinted 3D cancer 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: Dr.-Ing. Rainer Detsch, until 12/2025; Professorin Dr. Meike Leiske, since 1/2026; Professorin Dr. Tessa Charlotte Lühmann, since 1/2022; Dr. Ingo Thievessen, until 12/2021