https://video.igem.org/videos/watch/94a1dc4c-af45-43c0-bd4e-38bcdccb1ce7 Title: VESSL Description: Organoids are three-dimensional, mini-organ-like structures produced in vitro, that are giving us a glimpse into the future of drug testing and research. These structures can be produced through 3D bioprinting. Human cells are ejected through a nozzle into a customizable structure. However, it has proven difficult to produce organoids that truly reflect human tissue due to the inability to print extremely small capillaries that vascularize the organoid. To overcome the nozzle size constraints and achieve vascularization, our project aims to design a bioprintable scaffold using self-assembling peptides. The scaffold can guide and support endothelial cells in forming vasculature networks alongside predetermined paths. Our team is focusing on the scaffold protein design and on peptide production using synthetic biology tools. The computational side of the project uses tools such as AlphaFold and GROMACS to model how the self-assembling peptide scaffold folds, interacts, and forms higher-order structures. This helps us identify the most promising amino acid sequence for experimental testing. The laboratory team is working on producing the peptides in Escherichia coli and Aspergillus niger. The goal is to establish a successful protocol that could be scaled for future production and to characterize protein properties and their capability to form the intended structures. We are working to create versatile self-assembling peptide scaffolds and propose how this platform could contribute to organoid research. Our project is moving research towards creating bigger organoid structures that could resemble the complex biology of human tissues more accurately Wiki | Official Page Tue, 01 Sep 2026 16:53:17 GMT https://validator.w3.org/feed/docs/rss2.html PeerTube - https://video.igem.org https://video.igem.org/client/assets/images/icons/icon-1500x1500.png https://video.igem.org/videos/watch/94a1dc4c-af45-43c0-bd4e-38bcdccb1ce7 All rights reserved, unless otherwise specified in the terms specified at https://video.igem.org/about and potential licenses granted by each content's rightholder.