Bioengineered 3D Microenvironments
ABOUT
Our group focuses on the development of bioengineered microenvironments to promote controlled 3D cell assembly. We intend to recapitulate tissue-specific morphogenesis and differentiation, and understand the impact of microenvironmental signals on these processes. Ultimately, we aim to translate this knowledge into the design of advanced cell-delivery systems for regenerative therapies and 3D in vitro models.
RESEARCH
Engineering 3D cell morphogenesis
We have been developing cell-instructive hydrogels, ranging from complex multifunctional hydrogels, to “minimal matrices” containing only the essential biochemical/biomechanical signals for cells to exhibit their unique self-organizing properties and recapitulate tissue-specific morphogenesis and differentiation. By gaining insights into the mechanisms by which cells sense their microenvironment to organize into specific structures, and how this process can be guided by matrix features, we intend to advance the design of ECM-like 3D matrices for different therapeutic applications, from regenerative medicine to cancer.
Microarraying the cell microenvironment
In 3D microenvironments, cells respond to an array of soluble and matrix-associated cues and it is essential to systematically deconstruct their individual contribution and interplay. Yet, such combinatorial studies are very demanding. To address this challenge we are establishing high-throughput screening (HTS) platforms of 3D microarrays, where the combination of different cell-material scenarios into miniaturized specimens will allow assaying numerous variables in a time/cost-effective manner. In particular, it will greatly facilitate the testing of novel hydrogel formulations and optimization of 3D microenvironments.
Current research areas include:
- The development of pro-angiogenic scaffold-based and scaffold-free microtissues for cell-based regenerative therapy
- The development of 3D models to analyze the role of the ECM in cancer-related EMT (epithelial-to mesenchymal transitions)

Team
Selected Publications
Engineering injectable vascularized tissues from the bottom-up: Dynamics of in-gel extra-spheroid dermal tissue assembly. Biomaterials279:, 2021. [Journal: Article] [CI: 6] [IF: 15,3]
DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2021.121222 SCOPUS: 85118349708
Teixeira F.C., Chaves S., Torres A.L., Barrias C.C., Bidarra S.J.,
Engineering a Vascularized 3D Hybrid System to Model Tumor-Stroma Interactions in Breast Cancer. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology9:, 2021. [Journal: Article] [CI: 12] [IF: 6,1]
DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2021.647031 SCOPUS: 85103053615
Carvalho D.T.O., Feijão T., Neves M.I., Da Silva R.M.P., Barrias C.C.,
Directed self-assembly of spheroids into modular vascular beds for engineering large tissue constructs. Biofabrication13(3):, 2021. [Journal: Article] [CI: 6] [IF: 11,1]
DOI: 10.1088/1758-5090/abc790 SCOPUS: 85105354294
Araújo M., Silveira J., Sousa A., Bessa-Gonçalves M., Santos S.G., Barrias C.C.,
A bioinspired multifunctional hydrogel patch targeting inflammation and regeneration in chronic intestinal wounds. Biomaterials Science9(19):6510-6527, 2021. [Journal: Article] [CI: 7] [IF: 7,6]
DOI: 10.1039/d1bm00118c SCOPUS: 85116461216
Campiglio C.E., Bidarra S.J., Draghi L., Barrias C.C.,
Bottom-up engineering of cell-laden hydrogel microfibrous patch for guided tissue regeneration. Materials Science and Engineering C108:, 2020. [Journal: Article] [CI: 17] [IF: 7,3]
DOI: 10.1016/j.msec.2019.110488 SCOPUS: 85075568685
Araújo M., Bidarra S.J., Alves P.M., Valcarcel J., Vázquez J.A., Barrias C.C.,
Coumarin-grafted blue-emitting fluorescent alginate as a potentially valuable tool for biomedical applications. Journal of Materials Chemistry B8(4):813-825, 2020. [Journal: Article] [CI: 13] [IF: 6,3]
DOI: 10.1039/c9tb01402k SCOPUS: 85078683860
Torres A.L., Bidarra S.J., Vasconcelos D.P., Barbosa J.N., Silva E.A., Nascimento D.S., Barrias C.C.,
Microvascular engineering: Dynamic changes in microgel-entrapped vascular cells correlates with higher vasculogenic/angiogenic potential. Biomaterials228:, 2020. [Journal: Article] [CI: 23] [IF: 12,5]
DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2019.119554 SCOPUS: 85074166551
Barros da Silva P., Coelho M., Bidarra S.J., Neves S.C., Barrias C.C.,
Reshaping in vitro Models of Breast Tissue: Integration of Stromal and Parenchymal Compartments in 3D Printed Hydrogels. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology8:, 2020. [Journal: Article] [CI: 7] [IF: 5,9]
DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2020.00494 SCOPUS: 85087017058
Torres A.L., Bidarra S.J., Pinto M.T., Aguiar P.C., Silva E.A., Barrias C.C.,
Guiding morphogenesis in cell-instructive microgels for therapeutic angiogenesis. Biomaterials154:34-47, 2018. [Journal: Article] [CI: 41] [IF: 10,3]
DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2017.10.051 SCOPUS: 85032820887
Bidarra S.J., Oliveira P., Rocha S., Saraiva D.P., Oliveira C., Barrias C.C.,
A 3D in vitro model to explore the inter-conversion between epithelial and mesenchymal states during EMT and its reversion. Scientific Reports6:, 2016. [Journal: Article] [CI: 45] [IF: 4,3]
DOI: 10.1038/srep27072 SCOPUS: 84973343030