Biofabrication
ABOUT
The Group’s aim is to use biofabrication strategies to develop 3D matrices, in vitro biological models, advanced therapeutic medicinal products and smart micro/nano-systems for applications in tissue engineering, regenerative medicine and cancer. The Group focuses on the development of multifunctional biomaterials using biofabrication strategies to generate versatile biomimetic platforms to study cell-material interactions underlying both healthy or diseased tissues, translating this knowledge to create cutting-edge solutions for tissue repair/regeneration, as well as for cancer diagnosis and treatment.
RESEARCH
The Group’s research consists in the development of multifunctional biomaterials for biofabrication strategies (namely 3D bioprinting and electrospinning), combining them with cell-based products, and organ-on-a-chip devices using principles and tools from tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.
Biomaterials play a central role in most biomedical applications, by acting as cell-instructive matrices and/or delivery vehicles of cells, drugs and biomolecules. We are developing new biomaterials with controllable properties, capable of guiding de novo tissue formation. We have been synthetizing novel biomaterials with multifunctional properties, dynamic and viscoelastic behaviors by exploring a variety of chemistries in order to recreate fundamental functions of the native extracellular matrix. These biomaterials are being applied to develop advanced bioinks, 3D cell culture platforms, matrices for tissue regeneration and micro/nanoparticulate systems.
Bioprinting is a core technology in biofabrication enabling the automated generation of biologically functional 3D constructs. We are working on the development of bioprinting technologies combining modular printing units to produce 3D cell-laden constructs, cell-instructive 3D scaffolds and in vitro tissue models. By utilizing bioprinting systems, we are able to control the spatial arrangement of cells, biomaterials and biomolecules towards the fabrication of biomimetic 3D constructs. We are developing bioengineering strategies combining bioinstructive biomaterials, cells and gene editing tools (CRISPR) using biofabrication approaches to develop novel solutions for skin, stomach, bone, intervertebral disc (IVD) and cartilage regeneration.
Another area of research is the use of microfluidic technology to create miniaturized organs-on-a-chip platforms resembling fundamental features of human organs. Biomimetic platforms are a valuable tool to perform in vitro studies to understand fundamental mechanisms underlying healthy and diseased tissues. We are combining cell-derived and decellularized matrices, engineered biomaterials, cells and bioprinting technology to create 3D in vitro tissue models and 3D cell culture systems to study the transport of nanoparticles and cell-cell and cell-material interactions. These platforms are essential to develop more efficient strategies for cancer and tissue regeneration or repair (e.g. stomach ulcers, IVD, chronic skin wounds).
Team
Selected Publications
Leveling Up Hydrogels: Hybrid Systems in Tissue Engineering. Trends in Biotechnology38(3):292-315, 2020. [Journal: Review] [CI: 73] [IF: 19,5]
DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2019.09.004 SCOPUS: 85075891574
Pereira R.F., Sousa A., Barrias C.C., Bártolo P.J., Granja P.L.
A single-component hydrogel bioink for bioprinting of bioengineered 3D constructs for dermal tissue engineering. Materials Horizons5(6):1100-1111, 2018. [Journal: Article] [CI: 106] [IF: 14,4]
DOI: 10.1039/c8mh00525g SCOPUS: 85055847804
Dias J.R., Baptista-Silva S., Sousa A., Oliveira A.L., Bártolo P.J., Granja P.L.
Biomechanical performance of hybrid electrospun structures for skin regeneration. Materials Science and Engineering C93:816-827, 2018. [Journal: Article] [CI: 31] [IF: 5]
DOI: 10.1016/j.msec.2018.08.050 SCOPUS: 85054091151
Branco da Cunha C., Klumpers D.D., Koshy S.T., Weaver J.C., Chaudhuri O., Seruca R., Carneiro F., Granja P.L., Mooney D.J.
CD44 alternative splicing in gastric cancer cells is regulated by culture dimensionality and matrix stiffness. Biomaterials98:152-162, 2016. [Journal: Article] [CI: 37] [IF: 8,4]
DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2016.04.016 SCOPUS: 84966708392
Dias J.R., Granja P.L., Bártolo P.J.
Advances in electrospun skin substitutes. Progress in Materials Science84:314-334, 2016. [Journal: Review] [CI: 138] [IF: 31,1]
DOI: 10.1016/j.pmatsci.2016.09.006 SCOPUS: 84992128552
Neves S., Gomes D., Sousa A., Bidarra S., Petrini P., Moroni L., Barrias C., Granja P.
Biofunctionalized pectin hydrogels as 3D cellular microenvironments. Journal of Materials Chemistry B3(10):2096-2108, 2015. [Journal: Article] [CI: 79] [IF: 4,9]
DOI: 10.1039/c4tb00885e SCOPUS: 84923913719
Neves S.C., Mota C., Longoni A., Barrias C.C., Granja P.L., Moroni L.
Additive manufactured polymeric 3D scaffolds with tailored surface topography influence mesenchymal stromal cells activity. Biofabrication8(2):, 2016. [Journal: Article] [CI: 37] [IF: 5,2]
DOI: 10.1088/1758-5090/8/2/025012 SCOPUS: 84987677248
Wang Z., Kapadia W., Li C., Lin F., Pereira R.F., Granja P.L., Sarmento B., Cui W.
Tissue-specific engineering: 3D bioprinting in regenerative medicine. Journal of Controlled Release329:237-256, 2021. [Journal: Review] [CI: 51] [IF: 11,5]
DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2020.11.044 SCOPUS: 85098733531
Pereira R.F., Lourenço B.N., Bártolo P.J., Granja P.L.
Bioprinting a Multifunctional Bioink to Engineer Clickable 3D Cellular Niches with Tunable Matrix Microenvironmental Cues. Advanced Healthcare Materials10(2):, 2021. [Journal: Article] [CI: 17] [IF: 11,1]
DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202001176 SCOPUS: 85094651302
Ferreira D.A., Rothbauer M., Conde J.P., Ertl P., Oliveira C., Granja P.L.
A Fast Alternative to Soft Lithography for the Fabrication of Organ-on-a-Chip Elastomeric-Based Devices and Microactuators. Advanced Science8(8):, 2021. [Journal: Article] [CI: 22] [IF: 17,5]
DOI: 10.1002/advs.202003273 SCOPUS: 85100571451
Baptista-Silva S., Borges S., Costa-Pinto A.R., Costa R., Amorim M., Dias J.R., Ramos O., Alves P., Granja P.L., Soares R., Pintado M., Oliveira A.L.
In Situ Forming Silk Sericin-Based Hydrogel: A Novel Wound Healing Biomaterial. ACS Biomaterials Science and Engineering7(4):1573-1586, 2021. [Journal: Article] [CI: 50] [IF: 5,4]
DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.0c01745 SCOPUS: 85103772271
Lourenço B.N., Pereira R.F., Barrias C.C., Fischbach C., Oliveira C., Granja P.L.
Engineering modular half-antibody conjugated nanoparticles for targeting CD44v6-expressing cancer cells. Nanomaterials11(2):1-16, 2021. [Journal: Article] [CI: 11] [IF: 5,7]
DOI: 10.3390/nano11020295 SCOPUS: 85099747153
Lourenço B.N., Springer N.L., Ferreira D., Oliveira C., Granja P.L., Fischbach C.
CD44v6 increases gastric cancer malignant phenotype by modulating adipose stromal cell-mediated ECM remodeling. Integrative biology : quantitative biosciences from nano to macro10(3):145-158, 2018. [Journal: Article] [CI: 22] [IF: 2,8]
DOI: 10.1039/c7ib00179g SCOPUS: 85044245768
Costa-Almeida R., Soares R., Granja P.L.
Fibroblasts as maestros orchestrating tissue regeneration. Journal of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine12(1):240-251, 2018. [Journal: Review] [CI: 60] [IF: 3,3]
DOI: 10.1002/term.2405 SCOPUS: 85019570228
Costa-Almeida R., Granja P.L., Gomes M.E.
Gravity, Tissue Engineering, and the Missing Link. Trends in Biotechnology36(4):343-347, 2018. [Journal: Short Survey] [CI: 8] [IF: 13,7]
DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2017.10.017 SCOPUS: 85034606920
Castro A.L., Vedaraman S., Haraszti T., Barbosa M.A., Gonçalves R.M., De Laporte L.
Engineering Anisotropic Cell Models: Development of Collagen Hydrogel Scaffolds with Magneto-Responsive PEG Microgels for Tissue Engineering Applications. Advanced Materials Technologies9(8):, 2024. [Journal: Article] [CI: 1] [IF: 6.4 (*)]
DOI: 10.1002/admt.202301391 SCOPUS: 85185111014
Fonseca D.R., Alves P.M., Neto E., Custódio B., Guimarães S., Moura D., Annis F., Martins M., Gomes A., Teixeira C., Gomes P., Pereira R.F., Freitas P., Parreira P., Martins M.C.L.
One-Pot Microfluidics to Engineer Chitosan Nanoparticles Conjugated with Antimicrobial Peptides Using “Photoclick” Chemistry: Validation Using the Gastric Bacterium Helicobacter pylori. ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces16(12):14533-14547, 2024. [Journal: Article] [CI: 3] [IF: 8.3 (*)]
DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c18772 SCOPUS: 85187652527
Magalhães M.V., Débera N., Pereira R.F., Neves M.I., Barrias C.C., Bidarra S.J.
In situ crosslinkable multi-functional and cell-responsive alginate 3D matrix via thiol-maleimide click chemistry. Carbohydrate Polymers337:, 2024. [Journal: Article] [IF: 10.7 (*)]
DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2024.122144 SCOPUS: 85190291263
Ferreira J.R., Caldeira J., Sousa M., Barbosa M.A., Lamghari M., Almeida-Porada G., Gonçalves R.M.
Dynamics of CD44+ bovine nucleus pulposus cells with inflammation. Scientific Reports14(1):, 2024. [Journal: Article] [IF: 3.8 (*)]
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-59504-7 SCOPUS: 85190837599
Bebiano L.B., Presa R., Vieira F., Lourenço B.N., Pereira R.F.
Bioinspired and Photo-Clickable Thiol-Ene Bioinks for the Extrusion Bioprinting of Mechanically Tunable 3D Skin Models. Biomimetics9(4):, 2024. [Journal: Article]
DOI: 10.3390/biomimetics9040228 SCOPUS: 85191576671
Bessa-Gonçalves M., Ribeiro-Machado C., Costa M., Ribeiro C.C., Barbosa J.N., Barbosa M.A., Santos S.G.
Magnesium incorporation in fibrinogen scaffolds promotes macrophage polarization towards M2 phenotype. Acta Biomaterialia155:667-683, 2023. [Journal: Article] [CI: 21] [IF: 9.4]
DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2022.10.046 SCOPUS: 85143695879
Ferreira D.A., Conde J.P., Rothbauer M., Ertl P., Granja P.L., Oliveira C.
Bioinspired human stomach-on-a-chip with in vivo like function and architecture. Lab on a Chip23(3):495-510, 2023. [Journal: Article] [CI: 10] [IF: 6.1]
DOI: 10.1039/d2lc01132h SCOPUS: 85146176758
Moura S.R., Freitas J., Ribeiro-Machado C., Lopes J., Neves N., Canhão H., Rodrigues A.M., Barbosa M.A., Almeida M.I.
Long non-coding RNA H19 regulates matrisome signature and impacts cell behavior on MSC-engineered extracellular matrices. Stem Cell Research and Therapy14(1):, 2023. [Journal: Article] [CI: 2] [IF: 7,5 (*)]
DOI: 10.1186/s13287-023-03250-6 SCOPUS: 85149592285
Cimino M., Parreira P., Leiro V., Sousa A., Gonçalves R.M., Barrias C.C., Martins M.C.L.
Enhancement of hMSC In Vitro Proliferation by Surface Immobilization of a Heparin-Binding Peptide. Molecules28(8):, 2023. [Journal: Article] [CI: 3] [IF: 4,6 (*)]
DOI: 10.3390/molecules28083422 SCOPUS: 85154535747
Molinos M., Fiordalisi M.F., Caldeira J., Almeida C.R., Barbosa M.A., Gonçalves R.M.
Alterations of bovine nucleus pulposus cells with aging. Aging Cell22(8):, 2023. [Journal: Article] [CI: 4] [IF: 8]
DOI: 10.1111/acel.13873 SCOPUS: 85161374790
Wang Y., Pereira R.F., Peach C., Huang B., Vyas C., Bartolo P.
Robotic in situ bioprinting for cartilage tissue engineering. International Journal of Extreme Manufacturing5(3):, 2023. [Journal: Review] [CI: 5] [IF: 16.1]
DOI: 10.1088/2631-7990/acda67 SCOPUS: 85163426832
Ribeiro-Machado C., Santos S.G., Amaral I.A., Caldeira J., Pereira P., Barbosa M.A., Cunha C.
Macrophage-based therapy for intervertebral disc herniation: preclinical proof-of-concept. npj Regenerative Medicine8(1):, 2023. [Journal: Article] [CI: 2] [IF: 7,2 (*)]
DOI: 10.1038/s41536-023-00309-z SCOPUS: 85164248471
Freitas J., Moura S.R., Barbosa M.A., Santos S.G., Almeida M.I.
Long non-coding RNA CASC2 regulates osteoblasts matrix mineralization. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology11:, 2023. [Journal: Article] [CI: 2] [IF: 5,7 (*)]
DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1155596 SCOPUS: 85165210304
Teixeira G.Q., Riegger J., Gonçalves R.M., Risbud M.V.
Editorial: Intervertebral disc degeneration and osteoarthritis: mechanisms of disease and functional repair. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology11:, 2023. [Journal: Editorial] [IF: 5,7 (*)]
DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1252703 SCOPUS: 85167513349
Leite Pereira C., Grad S., Gonçalves R.M.
Biomarkers for intervertebral disc and associated back pain: From diagnosis to disease prognosis and personalized treatment. JOR Spine6(4):, 2023. [Journal: Review] [CI: 3] [IF: 3,7 (*)]
DOI: 10.1002/jsp2.1280 SCOPUS: 85173523193
Redondo M., Presa R., Granja P.L., Araújo M., Sousa A.
Konjac glucomannan photocrosslinked hydrogels for in vitro 3D cell culture. Materials Today Chemistry34:, 2023. [Journal: Article] [CI: 2] [IF: 7,3 (*)]
DOI: 10.1016/j.mtchem.2023.101761 SCOPUS: 85174210144
Moura D., Pereira R.F., Gonçalves I.C.
Recent advances on bioprinting of hydrogels containing carbon materials. Materials Today Chemistry23:, 2022. [Journal: Review] [CI: 19] [IF: 7,3]
DOI: 10.1016/j.mtchem.2021.100617 SCOPUS: 85119916519
Lima B.V., Oliveira M.J., Barbosa M.A., Goncalves R.M., Castro F.
Immunomodulatory potential of chitosan-based materials for cancer therapy: A systematic review of: In vitro, in vivo and clinical studies. Biomaterials Science9(9):3209-3227, 2021. [Journal: Review] [CI: 22] [IF: 7,6]
DOI: 10.1039/d0bm01984d SCOPUS: 85105514424