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Human Organoid-on-Chip to Study Rare Bone Disease
To date, there is still very limited progress in developing organoid models for human musculoskeletal tissues such as bone. A major challenge is reconstructing the native bone microenvironment which is structurally and functionally complex. In this project, we leverage interdisciplinary advances in tissue engineering and microtechnologies to generate a microengineered bone-organoid-on-chip platform for both fundamental and translational research in medicine.
Keywords: microfluidics, 3D cell culture, bone, disease modeling, hydrogels
Modelling human biology in microphysiological in vitro systems will enrich our mechanistic understanding of human diseases and may eventually enable researchers to predict how individual patients respond to drug candidates. Despite decades of research, our knowledge about bone pathology is mostly gained from expensive animal experiments, which are often too complex to dissect the contribution of molecular and cellular factors. Moreover, current bone-organoid-on-chip platforms often fail to replicate both the architectural and mechanical cues that are necessary for cells and the tissue to develop into mature bone.
Modelling human biology in microphysiological in vitro systems will enrich our mechanistic understanding of human diseases and may eventually enable researchers to predict how individual patients respond to drug candidates. Despite decades of research, our knowledge about bone pathology is mostly gained from expensive animal experiments, which are often too complex to dissect the contribution of molecular and cellular factors. Moreover, current bone-organoid-on-chip platforms often fail to replicate both the architectural and mechanical cues that are necessary for cells and the tissue to develop into mature bone.
The goal of this project is to develop a novel on-chip device to provide the above mentioned environment to hydrogel-embedded cells. In collaboration with the Children's Hospital Zurich, we seek to cultivate (patient-derived) human bone cells in a dynamic 3D environment to obtain a model for bone development. With this platform, we aim to answer questions related to disease mechanisms, extracellular matrix secretion and cellular response to mechanical stimulation.
The goal of this project is to develop a novel on-chip device to provide the above mentioned environment to hydrogel-embedded cells. In collaboration with the Children's Hospital Zurich, we seek to cultivate (patient-derived) human bone cells in a dynamic 3D environment to obtain a model for bone development. With this platform, we aim to answer questions related to disease mechanisms, extracellular matrix secretion and cellular response to mechanical stimulation.
Doris Zauchner (doris.zauchner@hest.ethz.ch), PhD candidate; and Prof. Dr. Xiao-Hua Qin (qinx@ethz.ch), Laboratory for
Bone Biomechanics, ETH Zürich
Candidates with particular interest and prior experience in microfluidic technology (chip design and fabrication), (3D) mammalian cell culture or tissue engineering using hydrogels will be preferably considered.
For application, please submit your CV, Transcripts of B.Sc. and M.Sc.
Doris Zauchner (doris.zauchner@hest.ethz.ch), PhD candidate; and Prof. Dr. Xiao-Hua Qin (qinx@ethz.ch), Laboratory for Bone Biomechanics, ETH Zürich
Candidates with particular interest and prior experience in microfluidic technology (chip design and fabrication), (3D) mammalian cell culture or tissue engineering using hydrogels will be preferably considered.
For application, please submit your CV, Transcripts of B.Sc. and M.Sc.
