The scientific project led by João Mano and Catarina Custódio, from the University of Aveiro, was the winner of Innovation Award Bluepharma | University of Coimbra 2019, and intends to use materials based on human proteins, as totally innovative and versatile platforms for the culture of cells in 3D, development of micro tissues and models of diseases.

According to the researchers, the project focuses on the development of microenvironments in vitro, which provide cells with biochemical and mechanical signals that are part of their natural environment. This is achieved by manipulating proteins isolated from blood plasma or perinatal tissues to prepare a new generation of hydrogels with controlled mechanical properties capable of encapsulating almost any type of cell. The raw materials used in this project, derived from human donors are easily accessible without causing morbidity at the donor site.

This innovative technology of humanized 3D micro-fabrics opens up a series of possibilities for the study of diseases and personalized medicine and, therefore, targeted therapeutic approaches with high clinical and translational potential.

The project team, which also includes researchers Sara Santos, Cátia Monteiro and Inês Deus, intends to develop effective platforms such as 3D models of diseases to assess toxicity during drug discovery and validation, while also having the potential to reduce the number of animals used in this type of tests.

The winning project will receive a monetary prize of 20 thousand euros, which in the future may also translate into an additional investment of 30 thousand euros. The Prize jury, made up of some of the best researchers in the country, highlights its originality, innovation and potential value creation for society, which is why it ranked first among 26 competing projects.