
Bioprinted in vitro liver models to propel clinical advances in drug development
Bioprinted in vitro liver models to propel clinical advances in drug development
Liver models to test new drugs based on 2D cell culture of primary hepatocytes and the use of experimental animal models are slow, costly, and have significant biases.
BeCytes Biotechnologies, in collaboration with the Biosensors for Bioengineering group, led by Javier Ramón from the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), aims to create cutting-edge
3D in vitro human liver models using diverse human hepatic cells by bio-printing. These models represent a valuable alternative to poor predictive 2D models and a tool to refine the drug development process by reducing animal experimentation complying with the 3Rs principle.
The Nuclis I+D project “Generation of new 3D models of microencapsulated liver cell pools by bioprinting”, funded by ACCIÓ, kicked off in February 2023 and promises to revolutionize liver research. This project is an excellent example of public and private collaboration between a TECNIO center, IBEC, and an innovative company such as BeCytes Biotechnologies.
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What are the objectives of the project?
These 3D liver models will be generated step by step, building up the blocks forming the model:
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- We will generate a cell stock of human liver cells, including hepatocytes, Kupffer cells, endothelial liver cells, stellate cells, and a mix of non-parenchymal cells, generating a pool of hepatic cells from the same donor. We will develop a simultaneous isolation protocol, phenotypic characterization, and subsequent cryopreservation.
- We will formulate specific culture media to allow the maintenance/growth of different co-cultured cell types. We will develop media to maintain and expand each cell type individually and formulate specific media for the co-culture in the 3D models.
- IBEC will synthesize and characterize a bioink based on collagen to microencapsulate the cells.
- We will join forces with IBEC to combine the produced bioink with diverse cell densities and cell types to produce microencapsulation bioprinted models. Moreover, we will combine cells from different donors.
This pioneering project underscores the significance of synergistic partnerships, as each partner brings their unique strengths to the table.
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What are the advantages of our liver in vitro models?
Creating in vitro liver models that mimic the complexity of the human liver will allow obtaining relevant and predictable preclinical results with translational clinical applications. Accurate models promote the development and search for new drugs.
The bioprinted models developed in this project using diverse hepatic cells from different patients present several advantages:
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- Accurate recreation of the liver. They will represent a precise recreation of the liver for in vitro use, not only at the level of constituents, using primary liver cells, but also spatially in three dimensions.
- Reduction of variation among individuals. They will minimize the variations attributable to different individuals by using cells from diverse donors. These models will represent the behavior of the global population in vitro in a more predictive and reproducible way.
- Increased reproducibility. The microencapsulation by bioprinting allows automatization, facilitating the work with these cells and reducing the bias generated by user manipulation.
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Collaborative projects will shape the future of medical brakthroughs
Collaborative projects in science, as demonstrated by the partnership between BeCytes Biotechnologies and the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), are pivotal in advancing research and innovation.
Developing relevant and accurate liver models through projects like the Nuclis I+D initiative highlights the profound benefits of combining public and private knowledge and expertise to tackle complex health challenges.
At BeCytes, we are eager to keep advancing and willing to present the first results soon. The future of scientific research and medical advancements depends significantly on our ability to foster partnerships and innovate with precision and accuracy.
If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together.
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Contact us with any questions or for personalized assistance at info@cytesbiotech.com.