Skip to content

Models for Tissue Growth and Fundamental Relationships with Scaffold Microarchitecture

Project title: Models for Tissue Growth and Fundamental Relationships with Scaffold Microarchitecture.
Recruiting and hosting institution: Paris Lodron University of Salzburg, (PLUS).
Country: Austria
PhD enrollment: Paris Lodron University of Salzburg
Supervisors: PLUS (A): J. Dunlop ULG: D. Ruffoni
Objectives: (i) Develop knowledge on the role of micro-architectural feature of bone implants and the growth process. (ii) Computer simulations will be developed to understand the role of surface geometry on tissue growth. (iii) These simulations will be bench marked on 3D cell culture experiments to give experimental insight into the model parameters needed, and to verify the output of the models.
Expected Results: To extract a set of design rules to optimise scaffold geometry to achieve fast and effective tissue healing.

Description: DC8 position is about investigating the following aspects

  1. The growth process on scaffold surfaces will be simulated as a function of scaffold surface geometry leading to functional design principles that can be used by other partners in the optimisation of regeneration. Previous studies indicate that surface curvature plays an important role not only in the rate of new tissue formation, but also in the orientation of the constituent cells and extracellular matrix. Although the role of surface curvature on orientation has been experimentally determined, suitable models to describe multi-layer tissue formation are missing. A first step in this project will be to develop such models and explore predictions for a variety of different surface geometries.
  2. Tissue architecture (orientation of extracellular matrix and cells etc) will be evaluated as a function of geometry, feeding in to a better understanding of the role of a micro- architecture of bone-implants on the quality of bone tissue formed. To explore this, different curved surfaces will be produced using 3D printing and/or 3D surface tension mediated moulding. Tissues will then be grown on these surfaces and evaluated in terms of rate and tissue architecture.
  3. Once a suitable theoretical model for describing growth and tissue architecture has been developed, it will be used to explore how surface geometry can be optimised in order to stimulate growth and improve the quality of the tissues formed.

The Doctoral Candidate will work in a multidisciplinary team of scientists (Physicists, Biologists, and Materials Scientists) in the MorphoPhysics Group at the Department of Chemistry and Physics of Materials at the Paris-Lodron-University of Salzburg in Austria. The Doctoral Candidate will interact with other members of the project’s DCs in a multidisciplinary setting by taking part in training sessions and workshops. Each DC will also conduct secondments in order to broaden her/his scientific understanding of the project’s subject and develop soft skills.