Description:
- Organoids and tissue engineering for applications in regenerative medicine, drug testing, transplantaion, and design of protein rich food sources.
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USC researchers have developed a system for precise spatial control of gene expression within multicellular constructs. The technology utilizes engineered cells and matrix materials to present signaling ligands and activate synthetic Notch (synNotch) receptors through customizable material-to-cell signaling pathways, enabling controlled cell differentiation in defined spatial patterns. The approach is generalizable across multiple synNotch receptors and supports dual-lineage transdifferentiation within tissue-relevant geometries. The approach provides powerful capabilities for engineering spatially organized tissues and studying multicellular patterning in developmental biology and regenerative medicine.
Benefit
- Achieves spatially controlled gene expression without the need for soluble factors
- Modular design can be applied to any transcriptional program or differentiation pathway
- Multi-lineage differentiation enables generation of complex tissue architectures
Market Application
The rise in chronic disease and traumatic injuries has increased demand for effective tissue regeneration solutions. Tissue engineering offers a promising alternative to surgical reconstruction and transplantation; however, current approaches that modulate endogenous cell surface receptors offer limited control over ligand presentation geometry and cell localization, which are critical parameters for directing cell fate and achieving reproducible tissue formation.
Publications
Engineering programmable material-to-cell pathways via synthetic notch receptors to spatially control differentiation in multicellular constructs. Nat Commun. (2024).
Other
Stage of Development
- In vitro data on dual-lineage transdifferentiation of fibroblasts