“Tissue engineering is a true multidisciplinary domain,” Inge explains. “One of the most common definitions describes it as ‘the application of the principles of engineering and life sciences toward the development of biological substitutes that restore, maintain, or improve tissue function or a whole organ’. The starting point is that using the natural biology of an organ or body part offers more chances of success for the replacement, the recovery, maintenance or improvement of it than other methods. In other words, if you understand how tissues grow and develop themselves, then you can apply these insights to producing new tissue for clinical use. It is no coincidence that tissue engineering is often named together with regenerative medicine although this comparison is not entirely valid. In regenerative medicine for instance, there is a greater use of stem cells, while tissue engineering mostly works with existing, already functional cells as engineering material.”
Smart mechanisms
From a young age, Inge’s interest was in sciences, biology in particular appealed to her but so did engineering. Her study choice, then, was obvious: Bioengineering at the K.U.Leuven, majoring in Cell and Gene Biotechnology. Her thesis dealt with making banana plants resistant to viruses and infections by introducing an extra gene. “Very interesting research,” Inge says. “Only it is a long time before you see any results. Transforming cells takes time. It is mainly waiting for a mature plant.”
After graduation, Inge remained associated with the Bioengineering faculty as an assistant. In the framework of her Ph.D., she researches how bakers’ yeast can detect nutrients in its vicinity. “These are really smart mechanisms that are able to trace nutritious components like amino acids or nitrogen components before they are absorbed. In other words, they anticipate and do not simply react to what presents itself.”
Research focus points
In 2004, Inge obtained her doctoral degree at the K.U. Leuven. That same year, she started at Group T as an assistant in the Life Technology unit. “I arrived at the right moment,” she continues. “The University College in general and the Life Technology unit, in particular, in the framework of the forthcoming academization, had started with the systematic expansion of scientific research. This assignment was given to Prof. Ingrid Ilsbroux who was promoted from manager of my unit to Associate Dean Innovation. In consultation with the K.U. Leuven, Group T defined a number of so-called research focus points. For the Life Technology unit that became Tissue Engineering with a focus on the repair or the replacement of bones.”
Together with her colleagues Prof. Paul Hellings, Saartje Impens, Luc Janssens and Tina Theys, Inge started with the expansion of this research group at Group T. “Mind you, we are not doing this alone,” she clarifies. “We are part of Prometheus which is a multidisciplinary research platform in which also the faculties of Medicine, Engineering and Bioengineering are involved. The surgeons are responsible for the clinical part, the engineers for, among other things, designing tools to set bones and developing carriers to apply bone cells.”
Biological and non-biological
“Also within Group T, we have divided the tasks clearly,” Inge relates. “Tina and Paul do the modulating, using computer models to examine how bone grows in order to be able to guide the processes, while Saartje and I focus on the bioreactor research. A bioreactor is a controlled biologically active environment in which cells can grow to establish tissue that can replace or repair bone. The cells are introduced to a culture so that they can be applied to a carrier at a subsequent stage. This may be calcium-based material or it may also be inert titanium. This combined application of biological and non-biological elements is one of the most important characteristics of tissue engineering.”
The research of Inge’s group is still in a preclinical phase. In other words, the results are not yet used in surgical practice. “We are indeed still working on the bioreactor design,” Inge confirms. “This is pretty complex engineering. Our results must, after all, be optimally tuned to clinical use. It involves many different disciplines: biology and biochemistry obviously, but also electronics for the sensors, IT for programming the reactor, etc. Engineers who want to work in a multidisciplinary environment can do their own thing here.”
Research and education
Inge combines her research work with an education assignment. She has taken on a number of biology courses from the first bachelor year to the master program, supervises projects and is responsible for coaching of master’s theses. In the meantime, she has also succeeded Prof. Ilsbroux as the manager of the Life Technology unit. It is a continuous challenge to apply for new projects to continue financing the ongoing research and, if possible, to expand it. “So I am very happy that our master students join in the fray,” she says. “Zhou Xiaochua, a motivated Chinese senior in Biochemical Engineering, is conducting research in the framework of her two-year master path. Also Maarten Sonnaert, a Biochemistry master student at Group T, is applying for a Ph.D. scholarship. We have clearly not reached the peak of our potential yet.”
Yves Persoons
