Department of Human Structure and Repair

Plastic surgery

Within this line of research, the Surgery Research Group investigates a wide range of subjects related to lipofilling, 3D bioprinting and tissue engineering.

Research projects

Tissue engineering in plastic surgery

Tissue engineering is a rapidly developing field in the medical world. Today still often in the lab or experimental settings. Nevertheless, some in vitro techniques can be very valuable. One of these techniques is to support the fat graft with a matrix to promote survival.

 

Isolation of autologous endothelial cells for tissue engineering

HUVECs are used as building blocks for creating (micro) vasculature in tissue engineering. These are currently purchased non-autologous endothelial cells in our lab. However, endothelial cells can be isolated from the patient's tissue such as the dermis: human dermal microvascular endothelial cells (HDMECs). This research aims to develop an efficient protocol for the isolation and culture of these endothelial cells, based on described protocols from the literature.

 

3D bioprinting of blood vessels

By isolating ASC and endothelial cells from a resection piece of an abdominoplasty, an ideal combination of cells can be obtained for printing blood vessels with the 3D bio-printer.

  • researchers: Florian Verlauwe

Collaborations

Our department works closely with scientists from Orthopaedics, Gynaecology, Experimental Cancer Research, CRIG, CRIG, Biomaterials, Organic Chemistry and Belgian Polymer Group.

Publications

Questions?

  • Phillip Blondeel, head of the department

  • Bernard Depypere, head of research