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SUMMARY:Biofabrication Strategies for Protein-Based Biomaterials and Tissu
 es - Prof. Axel Guenther\, University of Toronto
DTSTART:20250829T103000Z
DTEND:20250829T113000Z
UID:TALK235258@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:46601
DESCRIPTION:Abstract: In animals and humans\, extracellular matrix (ECM) p
 roteins are spatially distributed from submicron to organ scales. The hier
 archical organization spans at least seven orders of magnitude in length\,
  is tissue specific\, evolves over time and explains many unique propertie
 s of intact tissues. While current biofabrication strategies allow biomate
 rials and tissues to be spatially organized\, many limitations remain. Bio
 printed tissues are often produced at low speed and poor spatial resolutio
 n with sizes seldom exceeding one centimeter. They are fragile\, lack mult
 i-scale ECM organization and fail to withstand physiological loading force
 s.\n\nI will discuss microfluidics-enabled strategies based on protein-bas
 ed biomaterials to overcome some of these limitations. A first case study 
 will focus on the in-situ delivery of biomaterials and cells for skin tiss
 ue repair. My research group has developed a handheld skin printer for int
 raoperative use. I will discuss the microfluidic synthesis of granular bio
 inks\, their consistent and rapid in-situ delivery independent of the incl
 ination angle\, (convex) curvature radius\, and gravity\, as well as heali
 ng of full thickness wound models. In a second case study\, I will discuss
  the formation of ultrathin collagen sheets\, demonstrate examples for the
 ir assembly into multiscale load-bearing biomaterial and tissue structures
 \, both for in vitro use in tubular organ on chip models (arteries\, airwa
 ys\, bile ducts) and\, ultimately\, for implantation.\n\nBiography: Dr. Gu
 enther is a Full Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Industrial 
 Engineering\, with cross-appointment at the Institute of Biomedical Engine
 ering at the University of Toronto. He trained at the universities of Pade
 rborn\, Hanover (Germany) and Illinois at Urbana-Champaign\, obtained his 
 doctoral degree from ETH Zurich\, and conducted postdoctoral research at t
 he Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He received the ETH medal (2002)
 \, the Ontario Early Researcher Award (2009)\, the I.W. Smith Award of the
  Canadian Society of Mechanical Engineers (2010) and the Innovator of the 
 Year (2013) and Safwat Zaky Research Leader (2021) Awards of the Universit
 y of Toronto. He is interested in microfluidic and biofabrication strategi
 es for hierarchical biomaterials and tissues. He invented several bioprint
 ing technologies\, is a co-founder of the biotech company Vrit\, Inc.\,  a
 nd currently serves as a founding Co-Director of the nationally unique Cen
 tre for Research and Applications in Fluidic Technologies (CRAFT)\, a coll
 aborative research center between the University of Toronto\, St. Michael
 ’s Hospital/Unity Health Toronto\, and the National Research Council of 
 Canada (NRC) that aims to accelerate the translation of microfluidic devic
 e innovations to the clinic and to industry.
LOCATION:Lecture Room 6\, Cambridge Engineering Department\, Trumpington S
 treet\, Cambridge
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