Research Group on Histopathology and Tissue Engineering

Description

Regenerative Medicine Line: Study of cartilage regeneration. Study of bone regeneration. Study of the use of pulp precursors in regenerative therapies. Study of the regeneration of dental and peridental tissues. Study of induction and corneal regeneration. Histopathology line: Study of the extent of myocardial infarction and its determinants. Study of the vascularisation of renal tumours. Study of ciliary pathology.

Goals CT

Study of the integration and biological acceptance of different tissue engineering substitutes. In this regard, we performed a histopathological assessment of the acceptability of different tissue-engineered substitutes in animal models including constructs for the regeneration of articular cartilage, bone, dental tissues and airways.
Isolation of stem cells for tissue engineering. We are looking for alternative sources of useful precursors for tissue engineering. We are currently working with stem cells isolated from dental pulp, respiratory mucosa, articular cartilage and adipose tissue.
Design of hydrogels as scaffolds for tissue engineering. We studied the construction of different scaffolds using mixed alginate/agarose hydrogels associated with chondral precursors and dental pulp stem cells for hyaline cartilage regeneration.
In vitro testing of new biomaterials and/or scaffold production processes for tissue engineering and in vitro testing of adhesion, proliferation and cytotoxicity for further applications developed in vivo.
Airway regeneration using decellularised matrices. We evaluate different systems of decellularisation, recellularisation and sterilisation of tracheas for use as tracheal substitutes in vivo.
Design of tracheal prostheses using 3D printing. We study different materials, porosities and association systems with hydrogels for their potential use as artificial substitutes for trachea.

Research lines

Study of cartilage regeneration
Tissue engineering applied to the osteoarticular system. We evaluate different biomaterials for their application to articular cartilage regeneration. We have evaluated substitutes based on chitosan discs, PCL and hyaluronic acid, as well as other elements including mixed hydrogels and microspheres both in vitro and in vivo. This line of research has been funded by the ministry without interruption since 2004 (MAT2004-04980, MAT2007-66759, MAT2013-46467-C4-4-R and MAT2016-76039-C4-2-R).
Study of the regeneration of dental and peridental tissues
We test different materials including titanium prostheses or decellularised dental matrices for the regeneration of dental and peridental tissues. We also evaluate connective tissues such as dental pulp or periodontal ligament as sources of stem cells with different potentials. This line is funded by different projects financed in competitive public calls including IMPORTOX or NerBIO.
Study of corneal induction and regeneration
Study of corneal induction and regeneration.
Cilia and ciliopathies
Cilia and ciliopathies. We evaluate the ultrastructure of the ciliary apparatus in patients diagnosed with CPD and other ciliopathies by combining diagnostic support techniques such as high-definition video capture and molecular biology marker analysis. This line has been funded by the Carlos III through different grants (PI06/60726, PI16/01315).
Study of the extent of myocardial infarction and its determinants
Study of the extent of myocardial infarction and its determining factors. In this line, we work on the histopathological evaluation of myocardial infarction from a morphometric approach, assessing distortion at the level of cellular and conjunctive elements of the cardiac wall.
Airway tissue engineering
Airway tissue engineering. We work on designing tissue engineered substitutes for tracheal and bronchial prostheses including PCL constructs, hyaluronic acid, combined PLA scaffolds and alginate/agarose hydrogels and decellularised tissue matrices. This line of research is funded by the Carlos III through grant PI16/01315.