3D Engineered Cell Microenvironments

Our main focus is within the topic of manufacturing polymer and hydrogel materials for addressing a range of open questions in cell biology. Particularly, we place emphasis on light-assisted 3D photopolymerization (e.g. two-photon polymerization-2PP, digital-light projection-DLP and Mask Stereolithography-MSLA), 3D imaging (SEM, two-photon confocal imaging-2PI, light sheet fluorescence microscopy-LSFM) and nano-indenting techniques .

In the context of Life Science Applications and Biology, we employ these methodologies for developing engineered microenvironments able to mimic the main features of natural cellular niches.

This requires fine tuning of the porosity, rigidity, topology and material’s functionalization of the scaffolds. Our target is to use then these biocompatible structures for investigating migration, differentiation and mechanobiology features of cells and tissue-like constructs.

Research Projects

Light-assisted 3D manufacturing of neuronal microenvironments (PI, TU Delft start up grant, 1 PhD position, 200 k€, 2019)

Development of 3D Onco-Scaffolds as a benchmark tool for Proton Radiobiology (PI, TU Delft Health Initiative Pilot Project, 10 k€, 2020)

3mE Sectorplan Cohesion grant for the project “Bio-mimetic meta-implants” (PI, in collaboration with Mohammad Mirzaali, 200 k€, 2020)

DHI Onco-tech support grant (PI, 5 k€, 2020)

NWO-ENW-M-2 grant for the project 3D cell-instructive engineered stem cell models for neuropsychiatric disorders (PI, 700k€, 2021)

NWO-ENW-XS grant for the project 3D engineered brain cancer microenvironments for proton radiobiology (PI, 50k€, 2021).

NWO-ENW-XS + 3mE Cohesion grants for the project Unravelling neuronal growth cone mechanobiology via sub-micrometric fabrication and super-resolution microscopy (PI, 115k€, 2022).

NWO-ENW-XS grant for the project Shaping the blood brain/tumor barrier using light (PI, 50k€, 2023).

NWO-ENW-XS grant for the project Unveiling the connection between air pollutants and Alzheimer's disease via engineered stem cell derived models (PI, 50k€, 2023)

NSERC Alliance International Catalyst grant for the project 3D biofunctionalized meta-biomaterial (PI, 25k$, 2024)

Under construction

3D Engineered Cell Microenvironments

Research Projects

Light-assisted 3D manufacturing of neuronal microenvironments (PI, TU Delft start up grant, 1 PhD position, 200 k€, 2019)

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Development of 3D Onco-Scaffolds as a benchmark tool for Proton Radiobiology (PI, TU Delft Health Initiative Pilot Project, 10 k€, 2020)

​

3mE Sectorplan Cohesion grant for the project “Bio-mimetic meta-implants” (PI, in collaboration with Mohammad Mirzaali, 200 k€, 2020)

​

​DHI Onco-tech support grant (PI, 5 k€, 2020)

​

NWO-ENW-M-2 grant for the project 3D cell-instructive engineered stem cell models for neuropsychiatric disorders (PI, 700k€, 2021)

​

NWO-ENW-XS grant for the project 3D engineered brain cancer microenvironments for proton radiobiology (PI, 50k€, 2021).

​

NWO-ENW-XS + 3mE Cohesion grants for the project Unravelling neuronal growth cone mechanobiology via sub-micrometric fabrication and super-resolution microscopy (PI, 115k€, 2022).

​

NWO-ENW-XS grant for the project Shaping the blood brain/tumor barrier using light (PI, 50k€, 2023).

​

NWO-ENW-XS grant for the project Unveiling the connection between air pollutants and Alzheimer's disease via engineered stem cell derived models (PI, 50k€, 2023)

​

NSERC Alliance International Catalyst grant for the project 3D biofunctionalized meta-biomaterial (PI, 25k$, 2024)

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Under construction

DHI Onco-tech support grant (PI, 5 k€, 2020)