Grant: Research Tools and Instruments

The present RTI grant application is to provide funds for the purchase of a 3D bioprinter (RX1, AspectTM Biosystems), along with a biological safety cabinet, required for the use of the 3D bioprinter under sterile conditions. The RX1 bioprinter is equipped with Aspects Lab-on-a-Printer technology, which enables high resolution of multiple biomaterials and cells through a single microfluidic printhead. Multi-material deposition and patterning is customized through Aspects software that allows a high level of control in structure design and fabrication, thereby enabling 3D heterogeneous and complex structure fabrication. The 3D bioprinter will be used primarily by the four uOttawa research teams listed below. However, the equipment will also be available to other potential users within the research community. The four research teams are: - Dr. Robert Bens team for the development of 3D tissue constructs as model systems to study tissue permeation and cryopreservation using ice recrystallization inhibitors; - Dr. Xudong Caos team for the rapid and sensitive foodborne pathogen detections using microfluidic devices; - Dr. Isabelle Catelass team for the development of new bone substitutes for bone tissue engineering applications; - Dr. Andrew Pellings team for the development of multi-component cellulose hydrogel scaffolds for tissue engineering applications. The acquisition of a 3D bioprinter is critical to allow the applicants to achieve their research goals. A 3D bioprinter is the only equipment that can fabricate complex, compact and multi-component structures to create the physiological tissues and microdevices needed for the research programs of the teams listed above. More specifically, the Aspects 3D bioprinter modularity and flexibility, due to its unique Lab-on-a-Printer technology, represents a major advance in the current state-of-the-art through its precise control of biomaterial deposition to generate complex tissues or devices. Thus, its acquisition will be a major asset for our research and the uOttawa engineering and sciences research community. Finally, the highly innovative research associated with 3D printing will attract the best HQP to Canada and will enable recruitment of the best trainees who will become the next generation of leaders. While 3D printing is a very new technology, it is now considered one of the biggest practical technological developments in decades. HQP having expertise in these new fabrication technologies will therefore be extremely competitive in the job market. In addition, access to these new technologies will provide HQP a unique opportunity to acquire multidisciplinary knowledge at the interface between fundamental and applied biomedical research, and this training will prepare them for careers in academia or in biotechnology-related industries.