GUEST LECTURE: Miguel Castilho is an Associate Professor at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) in the Netherlands. He leads a multidisciplinary group working on biomaterials and biofabrication for in vitro human disease models and in-situ tissue regeneration, with a strong focus on musculoskeletal tissues. He has authored over 80 peer-reviewed publications and received several distinctions such as the 2023 Jean Leray Award from the European Society for Biomaterials and the 2024 Robert Brown Award from the Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society. His work has supported successful competitive funding efforts, including a recent ERC Consolidator Grant on developing a light-sheet bioprinting method for continuous blood cell production, as well as several national and European projects where he serves as PI or co-PI. In parallel, he coordinates an Additive Manufacturing and Biofabrication facility and leads a joint Eindhoven–Utrecht Master’s program in regenerative medicine, training students across engineering and life sciences. Dr. Ignazio Roppolo, is Tenure-Track Assistant Professor at Politecnico di Torino, Since 2017 he has been leader of a laboratory at PoliTo, specifically focused on light-induced 3D printing, in which different application fields such as biomedical, sensor, chemical engineering, 4D Printing and sustainable materials are explored. He is also fellow of Italian Institute of Technology, and he was visiting scientist at Ecole Polytechnique (Palaiseau, France), and winner of Fernandes Fellowship award in Warwick University (Coventry, UK). Additive manufacturing (or 3D printing in lay terms) builds physical structures layer by layer from digital 3D models. As this technology continues to advance, its impact is expected to expand further into the biomedical field, offering new ways to create biological tissues that could help address the healthcare needs of an aging population. Biofabrication may enable the repair of tissues damaged by injury, disease, or cancer, and it also holds promise for diagnostic tools and pharmaceutical screening platforms. This course introduces the foundations of additive manufacturing, combined with demonstration activities in the lab, with a particular emphasis on light-based 3D printing The first two days will cover core topics ranging from the principles of additive manufacturing and biofabrication to the design and development of hydrogels and bioinks. We will then move on to recent progress in volumetric bioprinting, exploring how these techniques work as well as the level of control required over bioink properties and processing conditions. The course concludes with state-of-the-art examples illustrating how biofabrication is currently being translated from laboratory research toward clinical applications. Learning goals: Understand core principles of additive manufacturing and biofabrication. Recognize key requirements for hydrogels and bioinks. Describe the fundamentals and potential of volumetric bioprinting. Identify current challenges for translating biofabrication technologies into clinical use.

Knowledge materials science, basic biology

Intro to additive manufacturing and bioprinting – 2h From hydrogels to bioinks – 2h Tomographic & volumetric printing – 2h Light-sheet (bio)printing – 2h Translating bioprinting from lab to bench side – 2h Final exam (project work)-3h The final examination consists of a group project carried out during a 3-hour session. Each group will be assigned a different medical challenge involving a specific tissue or organ. The task is to analyze the clinical problem, understand the relevant tissue characteristics (such as structure, mechanical function, cellular composition, and microenvironment), and identify the key requirements for a successful regenerative or diagnostic strategy. Based on this analysis, each group must propose an appropriate biofabrication approach. This includes: • selecting a suitable fabrication process (e.g., extrusion, light-based, or volumetric methods); • outlining the design of the model or implant; • choosing relevant biomaterials or bioinks, justified by their properties and biological compatibility; • explaining how the proposed strategy addresses the specific medical challenge. At the end of the session, each group will deliver a 5-minute pitch presentation, summarizing their rationale, chosen approach, and expected impact. The pitch should be concise and demonstrate a clear understanding of how biofabrication principles can be applied to solve real biomedical problems.

In presenza

Sviluppo di project work in team

P.D.2-2 - Giugno