Engineering brain- tissue-like matrices (X03)

• Subject Area: Biomaterials
• Term: since 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 460333672

X03 will engineer hydrogels with complex mechanical properties similar to those of native brain tissue. Oxidised polysaccharides (most importantly hyaluronic acid) will be combined with different proteins and extracellular matrix components to alter the material’s physico-chemical properties and to provide biochemical functionalities. The material properties will be thoroughly assessed using the different techniques used by the participating groups of EBM. To analyse the influence of specific material properties on cell fate, the amount of different chemical crosslinking functional groups will be varied to alter mechanical behaviour while keeping the basic hydrogel chemistry constant.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1540: Exploring Brain Mechanics (EBM): Understanding, engineering and exploiting mechanical properties and signals in central nervous system development, physiology and pathology
• Applicant Institution: Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
• Project Head: Professor Dr.-Ing. Aldo Boccaccini