During her PhD studies, Paula de Dios Andres researched the integration of hepatocytes with artificial cells. The field of cell mimicry aims to mimic and recreate cellular entities employing natural and synthetic building blocks. Paula de Dios Andres investigated various artificial cells that replicate key characteristics of their living counterparts, aiming to interface them with hepatocytes for the development of liver-like semi-synthetic tissues.

The new research findings advance the development of more sophisticated artificial cells that closely mimic mammalian cell behavior, opening new possibilities for applications in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

The PhD study was completed at the Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Faculty of Natural Sciences, Aarhus University.

This summary was prepared by the PhD student.

Time: Monday, 2 June 2025 at 13:00
Place: Building 1593, room 012, Auditorium, Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Aarhus University, Gustav Wieds Vej 14, 8000 Aarhus
Title of PhD thesis: Engineering artificial cells towards their integration with hepatocytes
Contact information: Paula de Dios Andres, e-mail: pda@inano.au.dk, tel.: +45 8715 6712
Members of the assessment committee:
Professor Jan van Hest, Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology, The Netherlands
Professor Marcy Zenobi-Wong, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zürich, Switzerland
Associate Professor Ken Howard (chair), Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Aarhus University, Denmark
Main supervisor: Professor Brigitte Maria Städler, Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Aarhus University, Denmark
Language: The PhD dissertation will be defended in English

The defence is public.
The PhD thesis is available for reading at the Graduate School of Natural Sciences/GSNS, Ny Munkegade 120, building 1521, 8000 Aarhus C