McGill Researchers Unveil Innovative Technique for Lab-Grown Tissues

Researchers at McGill University have developed a groundbreaking method that enhances the engineering of living materials, including tissues and organs. Their findings reveal a safe and cost-effective technique using vibration to influence the structural integrity of these materials during formation. This innovative approach, detailed in the journal Advanced Functional Materials, presents significant implications for applications in organ transplants, wound healing, and regenerative medicine.

How Vibration Influences Living Materials

The study, led by a team in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, involved the application of controlled vibrations via a speaker to living materials as they formed. This method effectively altered the organization of cells, allowing the researchers to adjust the strength of the resulting materials. The technique’s versatility extends to a variety of soft cellular materials, including blood clots composed of real blood and other human tissues.

Aram Bahmani, a co-author of the study and a postdoctoral fellow at Yale, conducted this research during his PhD studies under the guidance of Associate Professor Jianyu Li in the Biomaterials Engineering lab. Bahmani emphasized the importance of strong, rapidly forming blood clots, particularly in emergency situations involving traumatic injuries. He noted, “On the other hand, the same approach could help design clots that break down more easily as necessary, helping to prevent dangerous conditions like stroke or deep vein thrombosis.”

Advancements Over Previous Techniques

Prior methods for shaping living tissues typically relied on physical forces like magnets or ultrasound waves. While these approaches showed promise, they often struggled to replicate the complexity of natural tissues, which consist of billions of cells organized in dense, three-dimensional structures. Furthermore, earlier techniques sometimes damaged healthy tissues and could trigger adverse immune responses.

The researchers’ work marks a significant advancement, demonstrating that mechanical agitation can control the internal structure and performance of living materials in a “safe, scalable, and highly tunable way.”

To validate their findings, the team conducted a series of tests assessing the effects of vibration on various cell-laden materials, including blood-based gels, plasma, and alginate derived from seaweed. Using imaging and mechanical analysis, they confirmed that the method is applicable across a range of materials. Subsequent animal tests indicated that the technique is effective when applied within the body, without causing harm to surrounding healthy tissues.

Future Implications in Medical Technology

Bahmani expressed optimism about the potential integration of this method into advanced medical devices and wound-healing applications. “What makes this especially exciting is that our method is non-invasive, low-cost, and easy to implement,” he stated. The simplicity of the technique means it could be incorporated into portable medical devices, such as handheld tools for stopping bleeding or smart bandages designed to accelerate healing.

While promising, Bahmani acknowledged that further research is necessary. Future testing will need to address irregular wounds and explore the method’s effectiveness in conjunction with various medications. “Moving toward clinical use will require miniaturizing devices, optimizing settings for different medical scenarios, and completing regulatory testing to ensure safety and effectiveness in humans,” he noted.

The study titled “Engineering Highly Cellularized Living Materials via Mechanical Agitation” was supported by various funding bodies, including the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the NSERC/FRQNT NOVA Program, and the Fonds de Recherche du Québec–Nature et Technologies. This research highlights a significant step forward in the field of tissue engineering, with the potential to revolutionize medical practices globally.