Synthetic scaffolds for the recreation of human kidney
For renal disease patients, a groundbreaking solution is underway through a collaborative effort between UMC Utrecht and our private partner (IME-VIVOLTA). Together, we aimed to pioneer a proof-of-concept renal scaffold using biofabrication techniques with synthetic materials.
The global incidence of chronic kidney disease is surging, affecting approximately 10% of the world population, with over 2 million under treatment in western countries. With limited treatment options for end-stage renal disease, the project addresses a critical need, providing an alternative to dialysis and scarce kidney transplants. Tissue-engineered autologous kidney grafts could revolutionize care, eliminating the need for life-long immune-suppression.
Focused on creating a functional renal unit, our project centers on developing a scaffold that supports living cells for tissue engineering. By mimicking nature's extracellular matrix through synthetic polymer fiber-based scaffolds, we aim to guide human-derived blood vessel cells and renal epithelial cells into the desired morphology of a vascularized renal tubule. This structure facilitates controlled exchange of water and solutes, supporting natural renal function.
With TKI funding, we've achieved significant milestones with the design of small diameter hollow polymer tubes that are biocompatible and can be seeded with endothelial or epithelial cells to form confluent monolayers. These tubes maintain consistent pore size and scaffold dimensions, providing a supportive network environment for vascular and epithelial barrier function with controlled efflux transfer of solutes.
A significant breakthrough comes with our new bilayer design, offering an optimal functional distance between the vascular and renal compartments. Notably, our findings indicate that fiber orientation has a modest impact on epithelial cell performance in 2D sheets but surprisingly little effect in the crucial 3D tubular configuration.
This comprehensive approach represents a significant leap towards the development of a functional renal unit, utilizing innovative synthetic materials to address the critical challenges posed by renal diseases.
