Professor of Chemical Engineering
Distinguished Professor of Bioengineering
Faculty Bio
Professor of Chemical Engineering
Distinguished Professor of Bioengineering
Faculty Bio
In collaboration with Dr. Andrea Vernengo, Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering at Rowan University and former Research Fellow at the AO Research Institute (ARI) in Davos, Switzerland. Additional expertise from multiple institutes was used to conduct specialized analyses of the materials created.
3D printing cell patterns for annulus fibrosus regenerationThe goal is to repair annulus fibrosus (AF defects) using injectable biomaterials that encourage native regeneration. Injectable hydrogels can provide a space filling for the defect and a porous microenvironment for regenerating cells. However, their isotropic structure provides insufficient organizational cues for regenerating functional AF tissue. In this work we develop a novel injectable hydrogel biomaterial with 3D printed cells. Additionally, the composite hydrogel supports freeform microextrusion of living bioinks within its hydrogel structure.
3D printing cell patterns for the production of exosomes
The goal is to develop polymer 3D printing support baths that are able to be thermally actuated. By 3D printing cells in this support bath, they can be mechanically stressed by changes in temperature over time. This mechanical stress causes them to aggregate and communicate with each other. As they create organoid structures, the cellular byproducts, such as exosomes, can be collected without killing the cells. This work had a provisional patent submitted, which we plan to convert to a full application by the December 2025 deadline.
Work Associated with All Projects
Publications
- Pylostomou, A., Wychowaniec, J.K., Tognato, R., Egger, S.T., Alig, G.U., Edwards-Gayle, C.J.C, Safari, F., Weiser, J.R., Loca, D., D'Este, M., Serra, T., Vernengo, A.J., “EXPECT: A Thermosensitive Embedded Bioprinting Platform for Guided Spatial Cell Organization”, Smart Materials in Medicine 2025 September. doi: 10.1016/j.smaim.2025.09.002
Conferences
- eCM20 – Jennifer Weiser and Andrea Vernengo (presenter), et al. – “Microextrusion-based anisotropic cell patterning within temperature-sensitive hydrogel matrices for annulus fibrosus regeneration”
- AIChE 2022 – Olivia Kim (presenter) and Jennifer Weiser – “Temperature-Sensitive Patternable Hydrogels for Long-Term Tissue Repair” (Kim, O. Awarded 1st Place in Materials Engineering and Science Poster Competition)
- eCM21 – Jennifer Weiser and Andrea Vernengo (presenter), et al. – “Thermosensitive support baths promoting aligned anisotropic stem cell clustering for endochondral bone tissue engineering”
- AIChE 2023 – Jennifer Weiser and Andrea Vernengo (presenter), et al. – “Patterning and Controlled Condensation of Cells Embedded within Thermosensitive Support Baths for Anisotropic Tissue Engineering”
- TERMIS 2024 – Jennifer Weiser and Andrea Vernengo (presenter), et al. – “Patterning And Controlled Compaction Of Cells Embedded Within Thermosensitive Hydrogels For Anisotropic Tissue Engineering”