The research field of the Tissue Engineering and Biomaterials Group covers the basic biology of the cells experiencing 3D microenvironment and applied biofabrication of complex and vascularized (micro)tissues with applications in regenerative medicine and 3D in vitro disease models.

The group is historically specialised in cartilage and bone engineering and, since recently, addresses imaging-assisted tissue engineering (fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy) of intestinal organoids and related 3D tissue models. We develop and combine innovative biosensor-based approaches to visualize stem cell niche metabolism and oxygenation in organoids, tumour spheroids, ex vivo and in vivo.

Our group also provides service, access and the expertise in the basic tissue engineering: cell culture, bioprinting and fluorescence microscopy.

Lines of research

Within this research group, we focus on the following lines of research:

• Fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) of cell metabolism in organoid models
• Development of a bioink based on alginate and bioactive glass for bone tissue engineering
• Biofabrication of soft and vascularized tissues by hybrid bioprinting
• Polymer-based materials for tissue engineering applications

Collaborations

We are part of GGIG and CRIG and collaborate with:

• LECR (Prof. O. De Wever)
• Cell Death Investigation and Therapy (CDIT) Lab (Prof. D. Krysko)
• PBM, Polymer Biomaterials Group (Prof. S. Van Vlierberghe, Prof. P. Dubruel)
• Radiobiology group (Prof. A. Baeyens)

• Plastic surgery lab: GATE, Ghent Alliance for Tissue Engineering (Prof. P. Blondeel)

• TU Graz, Austria (Prof. S. M. Borisov)
• The Monaghan Lab, Trinity College Dublin (Prof. M. Monaghan)
• Barroso lab, Albany Medical College, NY (Prof. M. Barroso)
• Oncode Institute (Dr. J. Puschhof)

Publications