Jahid Alakbarli

PhD Student

Multimaterial Biofabrication of Alginate-Based Neural Microenvironments for Advanced Glioblastoma Modeling

Supervisors: Dr. Rainer Detsch and Prof. Aldo R. Boccaccini

Biofabrication is a process that enables the controlled production of 3D models containing cells that mimic the structural and functional properties of natural tissues. Within this project (C05) of the DFG-funded Collaborative Research Center/Transregio TRR 225 (“From the fundamentals of biofabrication towards functional tissue models”), (https://trr225biofab.de/ ) multi-material inks including alginate-based bioinks [1] are developed and optimized for neural tissue engineering applications. Various bioprinting techniques are explored, including extrusion-based printing for bulk construct fabrication [2] and drop-on-demand (DoD) bioprinting for precise spatial deposition of ultra-soft hydrogels [3]. In addition, the melt electrowriting (MEW) method is used to create specific microstructures within the constructs and to strengthen structural orientation [4]. The overall aim is to establish advanced tumor models that more closely resemble the glioblastoma multiforme and breast tumor interactions. Instead of monocultures, multimaterial and multicellular systems are engineered, incorporating not only tumor cells but also relevant surrounding cell types. This approach enables the investigation of cell–cell interactions, tumor–stroma crosstalk, and cellular infiltration processes within a controlled 3D environment, ultimately contributing to a better understanding of glioblastoma progression and therapeutic response. This project is being carried out in collaboration with Prof. Dr. Carmen Villmann University Hospital of Würzburg, Institute for Clinical Neurobiology and Prof. Dr. Reiner Strick, University Hospital Erlangen, Department of Molecular Medicine.

[1] Karakaya, E., Schöbel, L., Zhong, Y., Hazur, J., Heid, S., Forster, L., … & Detsch, R. (2023). How to determine a suitable alginate for biofabrication approaches using an extensive alginate library?. Biomacromolecules, 24(7), 2982-2997.

[2] Grijalva Garces, D., Strauß, S., Gretzinger, S., Schmieg, B., Jüngst, T., Groll, J., … & Hubbuch, J. (2024). On the reproducibility of extrusion-based bioprinting: round robin study on standardization in the field. Biofabrication, 16(1), 015002.

[3] Karakaya, E., Bider, F., Frank, A., Teßmar, J., Schöbel, L., Forster, L., … & Detsch, R. (2022). Targeted printing of cells: Evaluation of ADA-PEG bioinks for drop on demand approaches. Gels, 8(4), 206.

[4] Ju, H., Mirihanage, W., Wang, W., & Kilic, Z. M. (2025). Review on Melt Electrowriting Modelling and Applications. Machines, 13(9), 763.