3D micro-weaving of electrospun nanofibers. Design and fabrication of new nanostructured biochips for tissue engineering application. – NeoTissage

Context:
Since decades, the treatment of bone diseases is a challenge due to the apparent inability of bone to self-repair. There is no effective therapy available and patients can only be helped by surgical joint replacement.
Therefore, tissue engineering for bone regeneration appears as the most promising alternative. The principle of this method mainly relies upon the promotion of cells growth on a 3D bio-inspired material scaffold. In this approach, the morphology of the scaffold plays a key role as he must guide the cell growth and allow the synthesis of extracellular matrix and other active biological molecules. However, the effect of the biomaterial morphology on the efficiency of tissue construction is not well understood. Such a study needs an experimental strategy based on the use of biochips allowing the screening of a large number of nanofibrous morphologies.


Main goals:
To address this question, we propose to develop original biochips allowing the screening of bio-inspired nanofibrous materials for tissue engineering. Indeed, a biochip is a microarray with thousands of spots in which an individual cellular culture experiment could be carried out. Original techniques using the electrospinning process will be explored to elaborate microarrays for which each spot has a specific controlled nano-fibrous morphology and composition.

Methodology and expected results:
The project presents a strong multidisciplinary character. Thanks to the expertise and complementarity between the partners (LIPHT, IRMA and U977), we propose the following work-packages to ensure the success of the project:
WP1: Electrospinning for biochip elaboration.
This work package is dedicated to the development and the study of original electrospinning processes allowing the controlled “weaving” of nanofibers at microscopic length scales. Nanofibers with diameters ranging from hundreds of nm down to few tens of nm will be elaborated. Numerical simulations by finite elements method will help us to understand and optimize the formation of woven scaffolds during electrospinning. Finally, hydrogel photolithography on the scaffold will allow us to elaborate biochips for tissue engineering.
WP2: Morphological statistical analysis and multi-step regression.
This work-package is concerned with the development of new statistical tools to extract reliable, precise and meaningful information from greylevel SEM images of nanofibrous scaffolds in order to identify and quantify the significant influences among the material and processing parameters on scaffold and fiber morphology.
WP3: Biochips for bone regeneration.
In this work-package, we will apply the biochips for bone regeneration experiments. We will be able to study the relationships between nanofibrous scaffolds morphology and composition and biological properties such as osteoblast adhesion and proliferation and bone induction.

In conclusion, “NeoTissage” project is at the same time highly innovative and pertinent for its scientific and technical aspects (i.e. electrospinning) as well as for its applications (i.e. biochips). The transverse approach of “NeoTissage” allows the partners to perfectly integrate this project in their scientific strategies. Moreover, the whole investigated techniques will serve as a new platform for the development of efficient nanofibrous materials in different application fields such as tissue engineering, sensors or catalytic materials. Finally, we believe that the "NeoTissage" project will ensure the establishment of a close and fruitful collaboration between all involved partners to develop innovative biomaterials for bio-medical applications.