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Tissue-engineering an artifical interfascicular matrix for high-throughput drug screening.
The aim of this project is to tissue-engineer an artificial interfascicular matrix (aIFM) for rat tail tendon fascicles and assess its effects on fascicle recovery. To achieve this, we will combine a collagen hydrogel with tenocytes, immune cells and adequate culture conditions.
Over a third of patients with musculoskeletal problems complain about tendon / ligament issues, with tendinopathy being the most common one. Repetitive mechanical overloading resulting in the accumulation of microdamage in the tendon core (stroma) is the prime suspect for the onset of this often painful condition. Its avascularity, accessibility and tractability make the rat tail tendon fascicle an excellent model for the study of physiology and pathology of the tendon core. So far, the potential of the tendon core for recovering from micro-damage seems to be limited and many recent studies suggest that tendon healing is very much depending on a more active cell population residing in the tissue between fascicles (interfascicular matrix, IFM), a structure that is unfortunately only marginally present in rat tail tendons. The goal of this project therefore is to augment the well-characterized tail tendon fascicle model with an artificial interfascicular matrix to construct a model system with an improved representation of in-vivo tendon recovery that would allow for high-throughput drug screening. Depending on the applicants interests and availability, the projects focus could lie either on the optimization of the collagen hydrogel & fascicle construct production for higher throughput and reproducibility, the study of mechanisms behind immune cell invasion into the IFM / fascicle proper, the assessment of the regenerative potential of highly active tenocytes seeded into the aIFM or a combination of the three.
Over a third of patients with musculoskeletal problems complain about tendon / ligament issues, with tendinopathy being the most common one. Repetitive mechanical overloading resulting in the accumulation of microdamage in the tendon core (stroma) is the prime suspect for the onset of this often painful condition. Its avascularity, accessibility and tractability make the rat tail tendon fascicle an excellent model for the study of physiology and pathology of the tendon core. So far, the potential of the tendon core for recovering from micro-damage seems to be limited and many recent studies suggest that tendon healing is very much depending on a more active cell population residing in the tissue between fascicles (interfascicular matrix, IFM), a structure that is unfortunately only marginally present in rat tail tendons. The goal of this project therefore is to augment the well-characterized tail tendon fascicle model with an artificial interfascicular matrix to construct a model system with an improved representation of in-vivo tendon recovery that would allow for high-throughput drug screening. Depending on the applicants interests and availability, the projects focus could lie either on the optimization of the collagen hydrogel & fascicle construct production for higher throughput and reproducibility, the study of mechanisms behind immune cell invasion into the IFM / fascicle proper, the assessment of the regenerative potential of highly active tenocytes seeded into the aIFM or a combination of the three.
The basic tasks are: 1. Literature review, particularly focusing on the role of the interfascicular matrix in tendon health, maintenance and recovery as well as the intricate interplays between tenocytes and cells of the immune system (15%) 2. Protocol development and execution of experiments (40%) 3. Analyzing the data and producing figures (20%) 4. Writing the final report (Thesis) (25%). We are looking for a Masters student / intern with basic experience in cell culture and laboratory aseptic techniques. The project demands a minimum of 20 hours of bench work per week, and would better suit highly motivated students with a biology, biochemistry or bioengineering background. Students with other but related background will also be considered. Applicants from ETH Zurich and the University of Zurich are encouraged to apply. External students (Erasmus, IDEA League, ETH Partner universities, ..etc) are also invited to apply, provided that they can secure their own funding for living expenses.
The basic tasks are: 1. Literature review, particularly focusing on the role of the interfascicular matrix in tendon health, maintenance and recovery as well as the intricate interplays between tenocytes and cells of the immune system (15%) 2. Protocol development and execution of experiments (40%) 3. Analyzing the data and producing figures (20%) 4. Writing the final report (Thesis) (25%). We are looking for a Masters student / intern with basic experience in cell culture and laboratory aseptic techniques. The project demands a minimum of 20 hours of bench work per week, and would better suit highly motivated students with a biology, biochemistry or bioengineering background. Students with other but related background will also be considered. Applicants from ETH Zurich and the University of Zurich are encouraged to apply. External students (Erasmus, IDEA League, ETH Partner universities, ..etc) are also invited to apply, provided that they can secure their own funding for living expenses.
Contact: Tino Stauber, tstauber@ethz.ch / Institute for Biomechanics, ETH Zürich / Professorship Jess Snedeker. Our laboratory is based in Balgrist Campus, Lengghalde 5, CH-8008, Zurich, Switzerland http://www.orthobiomech.ethz.ch/
Applications should contain the transcript of records.
Contact: Tino Stauber, tstauber@ethz.ch / Institute for Biomechanics, ETH Zürich / Professorship Jess Snedeker. Our laboratory is based in Balgrist Campus, Lengghalde 5, CH-8008, Zurich, Switzerland http://www.orthobiomech.ethz.ch/
Applications should contain the transcript of records.