Cardiac tissue creation using Bio 3D printer (Collaborators: Dr. Gordon Tomaselli, Dr. Leslie Tung, Dr. Chulan Kwon, Dr. Sharon Gerecht, Dr Yun Chen)
One of the main focus of the Hibino lab is to 3D-print cardiac patches without biomaterial, and characterize them using a variety of techniques, such as histology, immunohistochemistry, electrophysiology (Dr Leslie Tung), biomechanics (Dr Yun Chen). While we are currently working with human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC) derived cardiomyocytes (Dr Gordon Tomaselli), we are expanding to work with cardiac progenitor cells (Dr Chulan Kwon), and early vascular cells (endothelial cells and pericytes derived from hiPSC) (Dr Sharon Gerecht).
Mechanism of ECM formation in TEVG (Dr. Berkowitz/Santhanam)
Small-diameter arterial tissue-engineered vascular grafts (TEVGs) have not yet been successfully translated into clinical applications. When implanted in the arterial system, arterial TEVGs must be able to withstand arterial pressure and shear stresses, while displaying certain unique mechanical properties. As the graft remodeling time course and process can be altered through the use of different materials and scaffold structures, the trade-off between scaffold degradation and extracellular matrix (ECM) formation must be carefully considered and investigated. Our research focus on investigating this trade-off to create clinically relevant and useful arterial TEVGs.
Drug releasing surgical suture/ TEVG (Dr. Hanes/Ensign/Suk)
We are trying to create a biodegradable drug-releasing suture and graft that will help to improve the quality and potency of sutures/grafts that are currently used in the clinical setting. By doing so, we can reduce stenosis, and induce native tissue regeneration with the newly developed technology.
3D printing TEVG (Dr. Fisher(MDU), Dr. Krieger(CNMC), Dr. Jonson(Nanofibersolutions))
Tissue-engineered vascular grafts (TEVGs) offer the potential to overcome thrombogenicity, immune responses causing functional deterioration, and lack of growth potential by providing a biodegradable scaffold on which a patient’s own cells can proliferate and provide physiologic functionality. Combining axial imaging technology with advanced 3D printing and biomaterials results in the creation of preoperatively designed, patient-specific TEVGs, that have the potential to improve surgical outcomes.
