João Tomás Silva Martins

FTIR spectroscopy for characterization/localization of the biochemical events of osteogenic differentiation of stem cellsFTIR spectroscopy for characterization/localization of the biochemical events of osteogenic differentiation of stem cells.

Strategies involving osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) represent promising tools in regenerative medicine, both through the promotion of in situ regeneration and the implantation of newly developed tissue, potentially circumventing clinical implications associated with more conventional therapies. This project aims to characterize the metabolomic and organizational changes of MSC cells from adipose tissue, during their differentiation into bone tissue. To this end, Fourier-transform-infrared (FTIR) vibrational spectroscopy will be used in order to follow the temporal evolution (during 21 days of osteogenic differentiation) of: i) composition of the plasma membrane (lipids, proteins, cholesterol) , changes in their fluidity and formation of extracellular vesicles, ii) characterization of the lipid composition of cytosolic globules and their involvement in energy metabolism, iii) intra- and extracellular mineralization. The predicted results will be extremely important for the optimization of bone tissue in the laboratory, in 2D and 3D cultures. The characteristics of the sample (cell cultures) require the complementary use of macroscopic and microscopic spectroscopy techniques. The vibrational microscopy experiments will be carried out in a partner laboratory at the University of Coimbra and, in case of a successful application, at the high-brightness synchrotron source “Diamond Light Source” (Harwell Science & Innovation Campus, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom). This work is integrated into the BetterBone project (2022.04286.PTDC).