In silico morphogenesis of collagen tissues for targeted drugs and bio-printing

This project aims to develop theoretical models and to implement computational frameworks for the modeling of tissue morphogenesis in natural and bio-printed systems. Addressing, in particular, soft collagen-rich tissues, the project will focus on the in silico modeling of:

• the multiscale hierarchical and organized arrangement of tissue constituents;
• the chemo-mechanical interaction among tissue constituents and among cells;
• the chemo-mechano-biological mechanisms driving growth and remodeling;
• extrusion and curing of multicellular aggregates blended with bio-inks.

With reference to cardiovascular applications, obtained results aim to: elucidate mechanisms behind tissue functional/dysfunctional structure (e.g., how collagen fiber microstructure, such as orientation, crimp and thickness, is determined?); conceive targeted drug systems for stimulating optimal molecular pathways promoting tissue healing (e.g., how growth and remodeling can be driven in order to obtain an optimal mechanical response of biological structures?); develop novel or optimize existing 3D bio-printing technologies (e.g., how extrusion and curing processes of cell-containing bio-inks can be tuned in order to develop functional collagen-rich scaffolds?).