Studying the oxygenation of 3D printed pancreatic tissues

Most people with type 1 diabetes control their blood sugar levels through frequent blood glucose monitoring and insulin injections or infusion. Insulin therapy is life-saving but also life-altering and leads to decreased life expectancy. Instead, insulin-producing cells could be transplanted in devices which would prevent their rejection by the immune system. The design of these devices must take into account oxygen supply to the graft, which becomes more problematic in human-scale devices compared to studies conducted in animals such as mice. Aspect Biosystems is developing pancreatic tissue devices fabricated by 3D bioprinting live insulin-producing cells. The objective of this project is to develop and implement a system to study oxygen profiles in these tissue patches. Ultimately, this project could lead to a new therapy to treat diabetes which would be long-lasting and require little to no daily intervention.

Faculty Supervisor:

Corinne A Hoesli

Student:

Florent Lemaire

Partner:

Aspect Biosystems Ltd

Discipline:

Engineering - chemical / biological

Sector:

Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

McGill University