Title: 3D printed pyrolytic carbon microlattices: A novel platform for musculoskeletal tissue engineering

Abstract:

While carbon-based materials offer exceptional biocompatibility and conductivity for tissue engineering, conventional manufacturing methods still suffer from complex synthesis routes and limited geometric control. To address these challenges, this talk presents a novel approach leveraging high-resolution 3D printing and pyrolytic conversion to fabricate architected pyrolytic carbon (PyC) microlattices with highly tunable geometry and stiffness. These microengineered scaffolds mimic the hierarchical mechanics of native musculoskeletal tissues while providing conductive interfaces that actively promote cell communication and mechanotransduction. Finally, we will discuss systematic in vitro and in vivo findings demonstrating excellent biocompatibility with osteoblasts and myoblasts, establishing PyC microlattices as a powerful, universal platform for functional tissue repair.

Title: Engineering Biohybrid Systems: From Living Muscle Actuators to Cell-Based Biosensors  

Abstract:

Living tissues possess unique functions, including force generation, sensing, adaptation, and self-organization, that remain difficult to reproduce using conventional engineering approaches. Recent advances in tissue engineering have enabled the fabrication of functional biological tissues that can be integrated with artificial devices to create biohybrid systems. This talk will present several approaches for integrating engineered tissues with microfabricated platforms to develop biohybrid systems with actuation and sensing capabilities, while providing new tools to investigate cellular responses in controlled in vitro environments. Topics will include skeletal muscle-powered biohybrid robots, an in vitro muscle training platform for studying muscle maturation under controlled exercise conditions, and cell-based biosensors that utilize living cells as biological sensing elements. Together, these studies demonstrate how the integration of living tissues and engineered systems can enable new functionalities for robotics, sensing, and biomedical engineering.

In case you have any questions or would like to receive updates on topics, lecturers and more, please send us an email to ieg∂intl.kit.edu.
The lecture series is organized by the International Scholars and Welcome Office (IScO) of KIT in the framework of the International Excellence Grants Program with funds granted to the University of Excellence concept “The Research University in the Helmholtz Association I Living the Change”.