In the heart of California, a team of researchers led by Aihik Banerjee at the University of California, Riverside, has made a significant stride in the field of tissue engineering and regeneration. Their work, published in the journal ‘Small Science’ (which translates to ‘Small Science’ in English), introduces a novel biomaterial platform that could revolutionize how we approach tissue repair and regeneration.
The team has developed a unique system called BIPORES, which stands for Bicontinuous Interfacially Jammed Emulsion-Integrated PORous Engineered System. This platform is designed to mimic the natural extracellular matrix, providing an optimal environment for cells to adhere, migrate, proliferate, and differentiate. The key to this innovation lies in its bicontinuous interconnected porosity, a feature that ensures effective exchange of oxygen, nutrients, and metabolic waste—crucial elements for developing functional tissues.
Banerjee explains, “Our BIPORES scaffolds are fabricated through controlled phase separation and interfacial stabilization of two continuous phases by nanoparticles. This process confers bioinert synthetic polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA) with unique bicontinuous interconnected porosity and surface topography.”
The potential applications of this research are vast, particularly in the energy sector. The development of functional tissues could lead to advancements in bioenergy production, such as the creation of biohybrid systems that combine biological and synthetic components to generate energy more efficiently. Additionally, the ability to engineer tissue at an organ scale could pave the way for innovative solutions in energy storage and conversion, leveraging the unique properties of biological materials.
The team validated the functionality of their BIPORES scaffolds using human mesenchymal stem cells, and human induced pluripotent stem cells-derived cardiomyocytes and cardiac fibroblasts. The results were promising, with outstanding cell attachment, growth, proliferation, and differentiation observed within the tissue-scale scaffolds.
“This research indicates that bicontinuous interconnected porosity with negative Gaussian curvature in the BIPORES scaffolds plays a key role in organ-scale tissue engineering and regeneration,” Banerjee notes. The implications of this work extend beyond the immediate applications in tissue engineering. The principles underlying the BIPORES platform could inspire new approaches in materials science, leading to the development of advanced materials with tailored porosity and surface properties for various industrial applications.
As we look to the future, the work of Banerjee and his team offers a glimpse into a world where the boundaries between biology and technology continue to blur. The potential for innovation is immense, and the energy sector stands to benefit significantly from these advancements. With further research and development, the BIPORES platform could become a cornerstone in the quest for sustainable and efficient energy solutions.