Building novel in vitro models to generate musculoskeletal interfaces using 3D bioprinting

Musculoskeletal interfaces are the areas of the body where tissue types meet, for example the bone-tendon, bone-cartilage and muscle-tendon junctions. These areas have a unique microanatomy but are particularly vunerable to injury in both the young and elderly populations.

This project aims to use tissue engineering and nanotechnology techniques to build in vitro models of musculoskeletal tissue interfaces in the laboratory. In particular, the use of 3D bioprinting, where cells can be encapsulated within biocompatible ‘inks’ and ‘printed’ with a high degree of accuracy will be used and combined with electrospinning technology that produces nanofibers. This work will be co-supervised by Dr Norbert Radasci, Lecturer in Chemical Engineering, University of Edinburgh.

The overall project objective is to produce a robust, reproducible in vitro model that can be used to study cell and tissue interactions at the interface in 3Ds. By doing so, we will use these models to uncover the key events existing when cell types found at these musculoskeletal interfaces meet and allow us to identify key targets that could be explored to produce novel therapeutics and potentially expedite interfacial tissue healing in vivo.

You will work with our 3D bioprinter, electrospinning, make solutions and hydrogels, perform cell culture in 2D and 3D and microscopy (SEM, confocal, fluorescent, etc.)