Tubular supply for 3D tissue based on shape-changing polymers and recombinant spider silk (B11[A08])

• Subject Area: Biomaterials
• Term: since 2026
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 326998133

A key challenge in in vitro tissue modeling is the absence of vascular networks for continuous immediate oxygen/nutrient supply. To overcome this, the project proposes fabricating functional tubular structures via advanced sheet-rolling techniques. These will enable perfusion in hydrogel-fiber composite scaffolds. The tubular systems integrated in such designed hydrogels can be embedded within other 3D-printed scaffolds. This approach allows mimicking physiological nutrient distribution in biofabricates while enhancing structural stability, with the aim to sustain long-term viability of complex tissue architectures in vitro.

• 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. Leonid Ionov, since 1/2026; Professor Dr. Thomas Scheibel, since 1/2026