Microenvironments for Medicine

We engineer biomaterials with controlled properties for applications in cell engineering, to support in vitro models and as tools for mechanobiology.

Our research focuses on the design of advanced biomaterials to engineer the cellular microenvironment, and has the potential to impact health by translating fundamental research into innovative therapies.

We have pioneered the design of materials that trigger the organisation of extracellular matrix proteins in a physiological way, a phenomenon that named material-driven protein fibrillogenesis (Science Advances 2016). We have also introduced new concepts in the field, such as the use viscosity to control cell behaviour (PNAS 2018); living biomaterials (bacteria-based materials) for stem cell engineering (Advanced Materials 2018); the low dose use of BMP-2 for bone regeneration (Advanced Science 2019), the relationship between matrix rigidity and metabolism (Nature Metabolism 2020) and interfaces that trigger the mechanical activation of growth factors (Advanced Materials 2024).

Our group develops radical new concepts that are pushed all the way through the translational ladder to tackle unmet clinical problems related to the health of people.

1. Engineered viscoelasticity in regenerative medicine and mechanobiology

We know that the extracellular matrix is viscoelastic yet most biomaterials that support tissue engineering and regenerative medicine approaches only consider the elasticity of biomaterials. We strive at design of materials where elasticity and viscosity can be tuned independently to provide 2D and 3D hydrogels that support dynamic cellular process and their physical remodelling.

2. in vitro models in health and disease

Improved in vitro models enable the study of human tissues in health and disease (e.g. cancer, degenerative diseases, inflammatory diseases), the assessment of new drug delivery tools (e.g. functional biomaterials, encapsulation delivery technologies, new microfluidic devices, etc.), and the cheaper and safer toxicity screening of new drug candidates. We develop robust extracellular matrix mimics, that provide the essential characteristics of a natural ECM in its ability to direct and control cell behaviour, yet with minimal complexity.

3. Engineered living biomaterials to control stem cell fate

Materials-based approaches to direct stem cell fate have resulted in major findings in relation to surface chemistry, stiffness and nanotopography. However, these models are a poor representation of in vivo behaviours, where cells interact with the extracellular matrix through a highly dynamic process. We have pioneered genetically engineered non-pathogenic bacteria that underpin living biomaterials that support stem cells. Living biomaterials that are responsive to small molecules and controlled by light will be new tools in the field.

• Matt Dalby
  University of Glasgow
• Massimo Vassalli
  University of Glasgow
• Molly Stevens
  University of Oxford
• Pere Roca-Cusachs
  Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia
• Sylvain Gabrielle
  University of Mons
• Amaia Cipitria
  Biogipuzkoa Health Research Institute
• Andrés Garcia
  Georgia Institute of Technology
• Gloria Gallego
  Universitat Politècnica de València