B01 | Ultra-soft matrix composites for the 3D neuroglia in vitro research

Ultra-soft matrices are challenging for cell culture due to their poor structural properties. However, it is known that they promote excellent interconnection between neurons and create neural networks. This project proposes to use highly resolved 3D-printed structures to mechanically stabilize ultra-soft matrices so that 3D electrophysiology can be performed on neural networks. In line with neural networks, controlled migration of glioblastoma tumor cells through similar ultra-soft matrix/fiber composites will also be investigated so that neurons, astrocytes and tumor cells can be used in the future as an in vitro model for glioblastoma research.

Prof. Dr. Paul Dalton
Prof. Dr. Reiner Strick
Prof. Dr. Carmen Villmann 

Prof. Dr. Carmen Villmann

University Hospital of Würzburg, Institute for Clinical Neurobiology
Contact: villmann_c@ukw.de

Prof. Dr. Paul Dalton

University Hospital Würzburg, Department for Functional Materials in Medicine and Dentistry
Contact: paul.dalton@fmz.uni-wuerzburg.de

Prof. Dr. Reiner Strick

University Hospital Erlangen, Department of Molecular Medicine
Contact: reiner.strick@uk-erlangen.de

Annalena Wieland

Previous academic education: Master of Science in Molecular Medicine
Academic Advisor within SFB TRR225: Prof. Dr. Reiner Strick
Location: University Hospital Erlangen, Department of Molecular Medicine
Topic of thesis: Ultra-soft matrix composites as three-dimensional models mimicking 3D glioblastoma in vitro.
Main techniques and methodologies to be used: Isolation and fractionation of human primary cells, cell culture, gene- and protein- expression analysis (ECM), proliferation- and migration assays.

Contact: Annalena.Wieland@uk-erlangen.de

Ezgi Bakirci

Previous academic education: Yildiz Technical University-Bioengineering, Sabanci University- Material Sciences and Engineering
Academic Advisor within SFB TRR225: Prof. Dr. Paul Dalton
Subproject: Ultra-soft matrix composite for 3D Neuroglia in vitro Research
Location: University of Würzburg, Department for Functional Materials in Medicine and Dentistry
Topic of thesis: Developing in vitro Culture System for Nerve Tissue Engineering Application using Melt Electrospinning Writing
Main techniques and methodologies to be used: Melt Electrospinning Writing, Hydrogel, Cell Culture

Contact: ezgi.bakirci@fmz.uni-wuerzburg.de

Congratulations to Ezgi Bakirci and Paul Dalton Project A04 & B01. Ezgi Bakirci won the IOP Biofabrication Best Presentation Award 2018 at the @utrechtsummer course 3D Printing & Biofabrication.

Congratulations to Ezgi Bakirci and Paul Dalton Project A04 & B01. Ezgi Bakirci won the ISBF Young Scientist Award at the Biofabrication 2021 conference.

Dieter Janzen

Previous academic education: Master-Thesis
Academic Advisor within SFB TRR225: Prof. Dr. Carmen Villmann
Location: University Hospital of Würzburg, Institute for Clinical Neurobiology
Topic of thesis: 3D electrophysiology in ultra-soft matrices
Main techniques and methodologies to be used: Primary cell culture, 3D electrophysiology, Immunocytochemistry

Contact: janzen_d@ukw.de

Wieland A, Strissel PL, Schorle H, Bakirci E, Janzen D, Beckmann MW, Eckstein M, Dalton PD, Strick R, doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-826338/v1  (2021). (B01)

Fischhaber N, Faber J, Bakirci E, Dalton PD, Budday S, Villmann C, Schaefer N, Spinal Cord Neuronal Network Formation in a 3D Printed Reinforced Matrix-A Model System to Study Disease Mechanisms, Adv Healthc Mater doi:10.1002/adhm.202100830  (2021) e2100830. (B01, Z01)

Kim J, Bakirci E, O’Neill KL, Hrynevich A, Dalton PD, Fiber Bridging during Melt Electrowriting of Poly(ε‐Caprolactone) and the Influence of Fiber Diameter and Wall Height, Macromol. Mater. Eng. 306(3) (2021). (B01)

Mark C, Grundy TJ, Strissel PL, Bohringer D, Grummel N, Gerum R, Steinwachs J, Hack CC, Beckmann MW, Eckstein M, Strick R, O’Neill GM, Fabry B, Collective forces of tumor spheroids in three-dimensional biopolymer networks, eLife 9 (2020) 51912. (C02, B01)

Janzen D, Bakirci E, Wieland A, Martin C, Dalton PD, Villmann C, Cortical Neurons form a Functional Neuronal Network in a 3D Printed Reinforced Matrix, Adv Healthc Mater 9(9) (2020) 1901630. (B01)

Bakirci E, Schaefer N, Dahri O, Hrynevich A, Strissel P, Strick R, Dalton PD, Villmann C, Melt Electrowritten In Vitro Radial Device to Study Cell Growth and Migration, Adv Biosyst 4(10) (2020) 2000077. (B01)

Schaefer N, Janzen D, Bakirci E, Hrynevich A, Dalton PD, Villmann C, 3D Electrophysiological Measurements on Cells Embedded within Fiber-Reinforced Matrigel, Adv Healthc Mater 8(5) (2019) 1801226. (B01)

Janzen D, Bakirci E, Wieland A, Strissel PL, Strick R, Dalton PD, VIllmann C (2020) Neural networks in 3D printed fiber-reinforced hydrogels, 5th Bioinspired Materials 2020 Conference, 16 – 19 March 2020 – Web conference

Wieland A, Strissel PL, Bakirci E, Dalton PD, Feigenspan A, Villmann C, Strick R (2019) Soft matrix composites as three-dimensional models mimicking Glioblastoma in vitro, 30th Annual Conference of the European Society for Biomaterials in tandem with the 26thAnnual Conference of the German Society for Biomaterials (DGBM); September 9 to 13, 2019 (Dresden, Germany)

Janzen D, Bakirci E, Wieland A, Strissel PL, Strick R, Dalton PD, Villmann C (2019) Neuronal Networks in 3D Matrix Composites, 30th Annual Conference of the European Society for Biomaterials in tandem with the 26thAnnual Conference of the German Society for Biomaterials (DGBM); September 9 to 13, 2019 (Dresden, Germany)

Bakirci E, Dahri O, Ceballos E, Hrynevich A, Groll J, Schäfer N, Villmann C, Dalton PD(2019) Design and Development of a Melt Electrowritten in vitro Radial Migration Assay, TeRMIS European Chapter Meeting 2019 27th-31st May 2019, Tissue Engineering Therapies: From Concept to Clinical Translation & Commercialisation (Rhodes, Greece)

Janzen D, Schaefer N, Bakirci E, Dalton PD, Strissel PL, Villmann C (2018) 3D Electrophysiology in Matrix Composites, Annual Conference of the International Society for Biofabrication (ISBF), 28 – 31 October 2018 (Würzburg, Germany)

Wieland A, Janzen D, Bakirci E, Schäfer N, Strissel PL, Strick R, Villmann C, Dalton P (2018) Ultra-soft Matrix Composites for 3D Neuroglia in vitro Research, Summer School “3D Printing Technologies”, 16 – 20 Jul 2018 (Würzburg, Germany)