Transformative Materials to Create 3D Functional Human Tissue Models In Vitro in a Reproducible Manner

Recreating human tissues and organs in the petri dish to establish models as tools in biomedical sciences has gained momentum. These models can provide insight into mechanisms of human physiology, disease onset, and progression, and improve drug target validation, as well as the development of new medical therapeutics. Transformative materials play an important role in this evolution, as they can be programmed to direct cell behavior and fate by controlling the activity of bioactive molecules and material properties. Using nature as an inspiration, scientists are creating materials that incorporate specific biological processes observed during human organogenesis and tissue regeneration. This article presents the reader with state-of-the-art developments in the field of in vitro tissue engineering and the challenges related to the design, production, and translation of these transformative materials. Advances regarding (stem) cell sources, expansion, and differentiation, and how novel responsive materials, automated and large-scale fabrication processes, culture conditions, in situ monitoring systems, and computer simulations are required to create functional human tissue models that are relevant and efficient for drug discovery, are described. This paper illustrates how these different technologies need to converge to generate in vitro life-like human tissue models that provide a platform to answer health-based scientific questions.</p

Das Stammzelllabor der Zukunft. Forschen in einer automatisierten Testumgebung: Beitrag auf der Internetseite des GIT-Labor - Portal für Anwender in Wissenschaft und Industrie (http://www.git-labor.de)

Stammzellen sind heiß begehrte Forschungsobjekte, doch die Herstellung und Erforschung der Zellen ist aufwendig. Hier wird eine vollautomatisierte Plattform vorgestellt, die Forschern Arbeit abnehmen soll. Im robotergestützten Labor sollen nicht nur die bisher manuell durchgeführten Zellkulturprozesse automatisiert, sondern auch an neuen Konzepten für die Laborautomatisierung geforscht werden

Automation, monitoring, and standardization of cell product manufacturing

Although regenerative medicine products are at the forefront of scientific research, technological innovation, and clinical translation, their reproducibility and large-scale production are compromised by automation, monitoring, and standardization issues. To overcome these limitations, new technologies at software (e.g., algorithms and artificial intelligence models, combined with imaging software and machine learning techniques) and hardware (e.g., automated liquid handling, automated cell expansion bioreactor systems, automated colony-forming unit counting and characterization units, and scalable cell culture plates) level are under intense investigation. Automation, monitoring and standardization should be considered at the early stages of the developmental cycle of cell products to deliver more robust and effective therapies and treatment plans to the bedside, reducing healthcare expenditure and improving services and patient care.This work was supported by Science Foundation Ireland, Career Development Award (Grant No. 15/CDA/3629) and Science Foundation Ireland / European Regional Development Fund (Grant No. 13/RC/2073). The StemCellFactory project was funded by the EU’s European Regional Development Fund and the German Federal State North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) EFRE 0800972. Figure 1 was designed by Darragh Neely Desig

Automation, monitoring, and standardization of cell product manufacturing

Although regenerative medicine products are at the forefront of scientific research, technological innovation, and clinical translation, their reproducibility and large-scale production are compromised by automation, monitoring, and standardization issues. To overcome these limitations, new technologies at software (e.g., algorithms and artificial intelligence models, combined with imaging software and machine learning techniques) and hardware (e.g., automated liquid handling, automated cell expansion bioreactor systems, automated colony-forming unit counting and characterization units, and scalable cell culture plates) level are under intense investigation. Automation, monitoring and standardization should be considered at the early stages of the developmental cycle of cell products to deliver more robust and effective therapies and treatment plans to the bedside, reducing healthcare expenditure and improving services and patient care.This work was supported by Science Foundation Ireland, Career Development Award (Grant No. 15/CDA/3629) and Science Foundation Ireland / European Regional Development Fund (Grant No. 13/RC/2073). The StemCellFactory project was funded by the EU’s European Regional Development Fund and the German Federal State North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) EFRE 0800972. Figure 1 was designed by Darragh Neely Designpeer-reviewe