University of Twente Student Theses
Spatial mechano-engineering using Engineered Living Microtissues
Hagen, L.P. (2025) Spatial mechano-engineering using Engineered Living Microtissues.
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| Full Text Status: | Access to this publication is restricted |
| Embargo date: | 26 February 2027 |
| Abstract: | As 3D cell cultures more accurately resemble the complex microenvironment of native tissues than 2D cell cultures, many studies focus on advancing 3D cell culture techniques. However, scaffold-based techniques primarily prioritise cell-material interactions, often at the expense of cell-cell interactions. In contrast, scaffold-free systems, such as spheroid models, lack control over cellular behaviour through cell-material interactions. Cell-sized dextran microgels with tunable stiffness can be incorporated into spheroids to introduce controlled cell-material interactions. However, as native tissues frequently exhibit regions with varying stiffness, tissue engineering approaches are required to mimic this heterogeneity in vitro. This study aimed to develop a method to fabricate tissue models with region-specific mechanical properties by applying spheroid fusion of microgel-containing spheroids with differing stiffness. The proposed method consisted of two sequential seeding steps. Initially, spheroids containing stiff microgels were seeded into a non-adhesive, custom-designed well, resulting in a fused tissue with the desired geometric features. Subsequent seeding of spheroids containing soft microgels led to the formation of a fused tissue construct with distinct soft and stiff regions. The developed method was applied using pre-differentiated osteogenic (stiff) and chondrogenic (soft) spheroids to fabricate an in vitro model of the osteochondral interface with well-defined mechanical and geometrical properties. |
| Item Type: | Essay (Master) |
| Faculty: | TNW: Science and Technology |
| Subject: | 42 biology, 44 medicine |
| Programme: | Biomedical Engineering MSc (66226) |
| Link to this item: | https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/105323 |
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