We provide unique scaffolds for in vitro cell and pharmacology research and development, with particular relevance to stem cells and cancer cells.
COVID-19 Relevance: recent data of GAIN scaffolds interaction with enveloped (influenza A) and non-enveloped virions (picornaviridae) indicate difference in virions adherence to nanostructured surfaces. Whereas corona-virions were not directly involved, the study may provide some highlights on general features of enveloped viruses interaction, which is likely to have similar impact on COVID-19. The results are now published.
New anisotropic GAIN scaffolds (graphene-augmented inorganic nanofibers) combine benefits of the 3D and 2D technology features for co-cultures, ALICE and bipolar assays with selective media separation, providing from 15 to 550 billions of highly aligned nanofibers per one square centimeter area. Due to these features, scaffolds exhibit a "2.5D" behavior in signalling which is somewhat analogous to neural communication.
The combination of tailored porosity, associated permittivity, ultra-high anisotropy, augmented shell stiffness and transport properties opens new perspectives and scenarios to GAIN outcomes in in vitro experiments especially for:
tissue engineering and pharma studies for dermal, neural, cochlear, nephrology, hepatic and other fields for ATMP experiments, e.g. for Alzheimer, Parkinson and similar drugs R&D.
toxicology at true 1R (total replacement) methods beyond the 3R -directive (2010/63/EC) framework
design and improvement novel concepts including those for omics, cancer cells immobilization and fine featuring.
NEW FEATURES: recent results proven the scaffolds to guide neural hMSC lineage differentiation without specific differentiation media or stimulus. Results are published in RCS Interface Focus!
NEW FEATURES: the scaffolds proven to modulate specific gene switching in four different cancer cell types (breast cancer, osteosarcoma, neuroblastoma, melanoma) with intrinsic auto-mechanotransduction and to alter gene expression in response to chemotherapy. Results are published in ACS Biomaterials Science and Engineering (now with Open Access!)
NEW FEATURES: the scaffolds have demonstrated specific reactions with some viruses. The work results have been published in MDPI Materials - special issue on Nanomaterials for Medical Applications (Open Access!)
ULTRINIA works in Tallinn University of Technology, sponsored by Estonian Tehnopol and Prototron Foundation (projects ULTRINIA and ViroGAIN).
“New ULTRINIA scaffolds are indeed unique: they mimic fibrils structure yet being made of ceramics with augmented graphene shells. This is a new tool in cell and tissue engineering research... ”
