Background

Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine hold enormous potential for a variety of chronic diseases. The aim is to replace whole organs and tissue with engineered tissue constructs reducing the necessity for donor tissue which is limited by low supply and associated with life-long use of immunosuppressant drugs. Tissue constructs are often a combination of biocompatible materials and living cells which due to their complexity make them subject to strict regulatory and quality control requirements that drive up their cost. The manufacturing of engineered tissue categorized as cell-based medicinal products (CBMPs) are required to adhere to GMP regulations and must include an arsenal of tests making up a potency assay representing the products mechanism of action (MOA).

Technology Overview

R-PT is a bioimaging platform for 3D characterization of lab grown tissue. R-PT harvests rich biomolecular information by combining a computed tomography approach with Raman spectroscopy enabling 3D reconstructions samples non-destructively and without the use of fluorescent labeling or dyes. The technique is characterized by high molecular sensitivity and allows for visualization and identification of major tissue components such as proteins, lipids, DNA/RNA, carbohydrates etc. The technology provides an alternative to disruptive techniques such as fluorescence microscopy and histological analysis for the assessment of tissue components. R-PT can be applied at all stages of tissue manufacturing from initial scaffold characterization to mature tissue construct allowing for unprecedented monitoring, feed-back, and quality control in situ. In addition, the molecular information collected by the system can be directly compared to tissue references or linked to tissue function, and thereby expected MOA. Figure 1. Figure 2. Figure 3.

Stage of Development

The development of a system for pharmaceutical research applications have been supported for 2 years by GlaxoSmithKline and Galvani Bioelectronics as a CRACK-IT project initiated by NC3Rs. The project is expected to continue until May 2023 with a team of two associate professors and two postdocs.

A prototype and image processing algorithms have been developed and tested. We have demonstrated 3D imaging of lab grown cartilage for visualization of biomolecular components such as collagen and proteoglycans. A study comparing R-PT with histology and mechanical analyses on lab grown cartilage is currently underway.

Benefits

Quantitative, non-destructive, and label-free 3D imaging.
Biomolecular product characterization.
Versatile product monitoring and quality control.
Biomolecular information directly linked to MOA.

Applications

Can be used for 3D monitoring and visualization of biomolecular components, quality control and process optimization in tissue engineered constructs. Can be applied for non-destructive biomolecular characterization of other lab grown tissues such as organoids and cultured meat.

R-PT: Raman Projection Tomography – 3D Biomolecular Imaging

Patents

IP Status

Seeking