Bioprocess development for scalable production of Cartilage Intermediate Spheroids - following Quality by Design principles

This PhD project relies on a recent bio-mimetic methodology for in vitro process design inspired by in vivo developmental stages of tissue formation.  Aim of the work is to develop and optimize the bioprocess for suspension bioreactor culture of progenitor cells to produce size-controlled µ-aggregate populations with defined chondrogenic properties. Automation aspects will be also considered in order to improve control of final product specifications linked to developed quality metrics. Quality by design principles will be considered to define the development process of Cartilage Intermediate spheroids to obtain assembled micro-tissue for large bone healing defect and repair of deep joint surface defects. Potency of engineers ATMPs as developed in this thesis will be tested in small animal models.