11 Aug Blue Organoids for Treatment Selection
To help you better understand the aims and challenges of the BOTS project, here are a few definitions of key terms.
A hydrogel is essentially a material gorged with water (up to 90% or more). These materials are attracting particular attention in the biomedical field. For example, as part of the BOTS project, we are using hydrogels to assess the efficacy of drugs and choose the most suitable treatments for breast cancer patients.
A marine hydrogel is made from substances derived from the sea, such as algae or crustaceans. Marine materials play a key role in the blue bioeconomy, replacing materials of fossil origin and making a positive contribution to climate change mitigation and the sustainable use of natural resources. In the Atlantic area, many marine products, often considered as waste, could be valorized to extract natural polymers and small bioactive molecules. This innovative material is made from ingredients extracted from the sea, such as algae and shellfish. Marine resources play a crucial role in the blue bioeconomy, offering an alternative to fossil materials and helping to combat climate change while preserving our precious natural resources. In the Atlantic area, many marine wastes can be recovered to extract natural polymers and bioactive molecules, paving the way for a sustainable and innovative future.
An organoid is a small, three-dimensional structure grown in the laboratory from stem cells. It reproduces the organization and functions of a specific organ in the human body, such as the brain, liver or intestines. Used to study organ development, test drugs and research treatments for various diseases, organoids realistically mimic the characteristics of human tissue. Organoids are small three-dimensional structures are grown in the laboratory from stem cells, faithfully reproducing the organisation and functions of specific organs in the human body such as the brain, liver or intestines. With BOTS, we focus on breast cancer, and organoids are invaluable tools for studying its development, testing drugs and researching innovative treatments.
Bioprinting is a technique that uses advances in 3D printing to create living tissue by assembling living cells layer by layer. It paves the way for the artificial production of biological tissues, with particular benefits for tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, pharmacokinetics and biological research. As part of the BOTS project, we will be focusing on the dispensing of organoids in marine hydrogels, an important stage in our project within WorkPackage 3.
The 3D cell culture approach recreates the body’s microenvironments where cells can develop and interact with each other and their environment. Organoids, a form of 3D cell culture, play a key role in this approach. This technique is emerging as a crucial tool for reducing the use of animal experimentation, opening up new perspectives in biomedical research.