Dr Gabriella Lindberg, Our people, University of Otago, Christchurch, University of Otago, New Zealand

Research Fellow

BSc(Biotechnology)(Chalmers), MSc(Biotechnology)(Chalmers), PhD(Otago)

Working at the interface of molecular research, biology, chemistry, material science and technology, Dr Lindberg’s research is in pursuit of a blueprint to bridge the gap between engineered and native tissues.

Dr Lindberg is currently a Research Fellow in the Christchurch Regenerative Medicine and Tissue Engineering (CReaTE) Group, University of Otago, Christchurch. Her expertise lies in engineering and integrating structure-function relationships by developing bioresponsive hydrogel biomaterials and applying 3D-biofabrication technologies to replace and/or regenerate damaged and diseased cartilage or bone tissues.

Research interests

Dr Lindberg's research is focused on the design of cell-instructive photo-polymerisable hydrogel bioinks and bioresins that mimics the native architectural organisation and biological niche, capable of adapting to the constantly changing micro-environment as the new tissue is forming. She further strives to apply these technologies to study how cells respond to being the engineers themselves compared to environmental signals dictated by researchers.

The development of smart chemical and biological toolkits for tissue engineering applications may provide us with a better understanding of cell-material and cell-extra cellular matrix interactions to help engineering constructs with sufficient tissue quality that further replicates the native 3D organisation.

With only 3 years post-PhD, Dr. Lindberg has secured $615k in contestable funding as PI, including the prestigious Emerging Researcher First Grant ($250k). She furthermore holds a provisional patent and is named investigator on grant funded projects worth over $2.7M.

Her research is part of larger collaborative projects involving both national and international collaborators in the likes of Germany, Netherlands and Australia.

Research projects

Bioinks for Cartilage Tissue Engineering

We explore the design of cell-instructive hydrogels for promotion of functional cartilage tissue in vitro through the identification of controllable chemistry systems and biocomplex matrix components. The combination of chemistry (thiol-ene and methacryloyl), biological (heparin, Vitreous humor, gelatin and hyaluronic acid) and physical (photo-initiating systems and macromolecules) elegantly widened the biofabrication window, establishing structure to function relationships and enhancing cartilage differentiation.

3D-bioassembly of clinically relevant orthopaedic replacement grafts

We explore a roadmap for scalable, reproducible, automated, large-scale biofabrication of tissue engineered products with a high level of cell–cell interaction in combination with structurally reinforcing scaffolds using bottom-up modular 3D-bioassembly technologies.

Oxygen Control in 3D-bioprinted osteochondral constructs

We explore how oxygen can serve as both a metabolic substrate and as a signaling molecule by incorporating biological and synthetic oxygen releasing/generating compounds into bioinks to gain spatial-temporal control over oxygen concentrations.

Personalised 3D Tissue Models: Reducing Health Inequities in Cartilage Therapies

We explore demographic inequities by screening and identifying donor variability and subsequently developing smart, patient-specific, 3D-models and bioimplants to counteract reduced cell regeneration potential in both healthy and diseased osteoarthritic environments.

Roles

Affiliate Investigator, Centre of Research Excellence in Medical Technologies
Affiliate Investigator, Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Diversity

Professional affiliations

Early career representative – Australasian Society for Biomaterials & Tissue Engineering (ASBTE)
Special Topic Editor: Bioengineering (MDPI)

Awards and distinctions

2021-2023, The University of Otago Health Sciences Division, Career Development Postdoctoral Fellowship, 2021-2023
2020, Best emerging/mid-career scientist presentation, bioengineering showcase, Online via Duendin, Christchurch, and Wellington New Zealand.
2019, First Place Young Investigator Award, International Society of Biofabrication.
2019, CMDT award, The Consortium for Medical Device Technologies (CMDT) and Medical Technologies Centre of Research Excellence (MedTech CoRE), Auckland, New Zealand.
2017, Shortlisted for SYIS oral presentation award, oral presentation, European Chapter Meeting of the Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society, Davos, Switzerland.
2017, Best student presentation award, 25th Annual Conference of the Australasian Society for Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering, Canberra, Australia.
2017, Integrity award, University of Otago Christchurch annual academic welcome, Christchurch, New Zealand.
2016, Rutherford best poster award, MedTech in Christchurch symposium, Christchurch, New Zealand.
2016, Best student presentation award, University of Otago Christchurch open day symposium, Christchurch, New Zealand.
2015, Best tissue engineering poster award, International Conference on Biofabrication, Utrecht, Netherlands.

Student supervision

PhD Candidate Axel Norberg
Supervisors Prof Tim Woodfield, Prof Gary Hooper, Dr Khoon Lim, Dr Gabriella Lindberg
Topic Oxygen control in 3D-bioprinted cartilage constructs

PhD Candidate Bram Soliman
Supervisors Dr Khoon Lim, Dr Gabriella Lindberg and Prof Tim Woodfield
Topic Spatial and Temporal Control over Tissue-specific Hydrogel Platforms for Osteochondral Tissue Engineering and Biofabrication

Summer student internship Valery Liu
Supervisors Prof Tim Woodfield and Dr Gabriella Lindberg
Topic Donor variation and optimisation of 3D cell culture system for cartilage tissue regeneration

Completed students

Master Candidate Emilcar Contreras
Supervisors Prof Tim Woodfield, Dr Gabriella Lindberg, Mr. Bram Soliman and Dr Khoon Lim,
Topic 3D-Bioassembly of Bioactive Bone Constructs

Master Candidate Laura Veenendaal
Supervisors Dr Khoon Lim, Prof Tim Woodfield, and Dr Gabriella Lindberg
Topic Vitreous humor as a bioinstructive biomaterial for cartilage tissue engineering applications

Master Candidate Ines Weissenbacher
Supervisors Prof Tim Woodfield, Dr Gabriella Lindberg, and Dr Khoon Lim,
Topic Optimisation and Evaluation of Light Curable Hydrogels as Tissue Modules for 3D Bioassembly of Cartilage

Summer student internship James Swan
Supervisors Dr Khoon Lim, Prof Tim Woodfield, and Dr Gabriella Lindberg
Topic Optimisation of oxygen gradients in 3D-bioprinted cartilage constructs

Visiting PhD student Ezgi Bakirci
Local Supervisors Dr Khoon Lim, Prof Tim Woodfield, and Dr Gabriella Lindberg
Topic Nanoscale 3D-bioassembly of clinically relevant orthopaedic replacement grafts

Visiting PhD student Kai-Hung Yang
Local Supervisors Dr Khoon Lim, Prof Tim Woodfield, and Dr Gabriella Lindberg
Topic Effect of photo-initiators on polymerisation of thiol-ene clickable gelatin bioinks

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Publications

Cui, X., Alcala-Orozco, C. R., Baer, K., Li, J., Murphy, C. A., Durham, M., Lindberg, G., Hooper, G. J., Lim, K. S., & Woodfield, T. B. F. (2022). 3D bioassembly of cell-instructive chondrogenic and osteogenic hydrogel microspheres containing allogeneic stem cells for hybrid biofabrication of osteochondral constructs. Biofabrication, 14(3), 034101. doi: 10.1088/1758-5090/ac61a3

Li, J., Cui, X., Lindberg, G. C. J., Alcala-Orozco, C. R., Hooper, G. J., Lim, K. S., & Woodfield, T. B. F. (2022). Hybrid fabrication of photo-clickable vascular hydrogels with additive manufactured titanium implants for enhanced osseointegration and vascularized bone formation. Biofabrication, 14(3), 034103. doi: 10.1088/1758-5090/ac6051

Lindberg, G. C. J., Cui, X., Durham, M., Veenendaal, L., Schon, B. S., Hooper, G. J., Lim, K. S., & Woodfield, T. B. F. (2021). Probing multicellular tissue fusion of cocultured spheroids: A 3D-bioassembly model. Advanced Science, 8(22), 2103320. doi: 10.1002/advs.202103320

Naghieh, S., Lindberg, G., Tamaddon, M., & Liu, C. (2021). Biofabrication strategies for musculoskeletal disorders: Evolution towards clinical applications. Bioengineering, 8(9), 123. doi: 10.3390/bioengineering8090123

Yang, K.-H., Lindberg, G., Soliman, B., Lim, K., Woodfield, T., & Narayan, R. J. (2021). Effect of photoinitiator on precursory stability and curing depth of thiol-ene clickable gelatin. Polymers, 13(11), 1877. doi: 10.3390/polym13111877

Journal - Research Article

Lindberg, G. C. J., Lim, K. S., Soliman, B. G., Nguyen, A., Hooper, G. J., Narayan, R. J., & Woodfield, T. B. F. (2021). Biological function following radical photo-polymerization of biomedical polymers and surrounding tissues: Design considerations and cellular risk factors. Applied Physics Reviews, 8(1), 011301. doi: 10.1063/5.0015093

Journal - Research Article

Longoni, A., Li, J., Lindberg, G. C. J., Rnjak-Kovacina, J., Wise, L. M., Hooper, G. J., Woodfield, T. B. F., Kieser, D. C., & Lim, K. S. (2021). Strategies for inclusion of growth factors into 3D printed bone grafts. Essays in Biochemistry, 65(3), 569-585. doi: 10.1042/ebc20200130

Journal - Research Article

Lim, K. S., Galarraga, J. H., Cui, X., Lindberg, G. C. J., Burdick, J. A., & Woodfield, T. B. F. (2020). Fundamentals and applications of photo-cross-linking in bioprinting. Chemical Reviews, 120, 10662-10694. doi: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.9b00812

Journal - Research Article

Soliman, B. G., Lindberg, G. C. J., Jungst, T., Hooper, G. J., Groll, J., Woodfield, T. B. F., & Lim, K. S. (2020). Stepwise control of crosslinking in a one-pot system for bioprinting of low-density bioinks. Advanced Healthcare Materials, 9, 1901544. doi: 10.1002/adhm.201901544

Journal - Research Article

Lim, K. S., Klotz, B. J., Lindberg, G. C. J., Melchels, F. P. W., Hooper, G. J., Malda, J., … Woodfield, T. B. F. (2019). Visible light cross-linking of gelatin hydrogels offers an enhanced cell microenvironment with improved light penetration depth. Macromolecular Bioscience, 19(6), 1900098. doi: 10.1002/mabi.201900098

Journal - Research Article

Lindberg, G. C. J., Longoni, A., Lim, K. S., Rosenberg, A. J., Hooper, G. J., Gawlitta, D., & Woodfield, T. B. F. (2019). Intact vitreous humor as a potential extracellular matrix hydrogel for cartilage tissue engineering applications. Acta Biomaterialia, 85, 117-130. doi: 10.1016/j.actbio.2018.12.022

Journal - Research Article

Mekhileri, N. V., Lim, K. S., Brown, G. C. J., Mutreja, I., Schon, B. S., Hooper, G. J., & Woodfield, T. B. F. (2018). Automated 3D bioassembly of micro-tissues for biofabrication of hybrid tissue engineered constructs. Biofabrication, 10(2). doi: 10.1088/1758-5090/aa9ef1

Journal - Research Article

Bertlein, S., Brown, G., Lim, K. S., Jungst, T., Boeck, T., Blunk, T., … Hooper, G. J., Woodfield, T. B. F., & Groll, J. (2017). Thiol-ene clickable gelatin: A platform bioink for multiple 3D biofabrication technologies. Advanced Materials, 29(44), 1703404. doi: 10.1002/adma.201703404

Journal - Research Article

Brown, G. C. J., Lim, K. S., Farrugia, B. L., Hooper, G. J., & Woodfield, T. B. F. (2017). Covalent incorporation of heparin improves chondrogenesis in photocurable gelatin-methacryloyl hydrogels. Macromolecular Bioscience, 17(12), 1700158. doi: 10.1002/mabi.201700158

Journal - Research Article

Lim, K. S., Schon, B. S., Mekhileri, N. V., Brown, G. C. J., Chia, C. M., Prabakar, S., Hooper, G. J., & Woodfield, T. B. F. (2016). New visible-light photoinitiating system for improved print fidelity in gelatin-based bioinks. ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering, 2, 1752-1762. doi: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.6b00149

Journal - Research Article

Massoud, A. A., Langer, V., Gohar, Y. M., Abu-Youssef, M. A. M., Jänis, J., Lindberg, G., … Öhrström, L. (2013). Effects of different substituents on the crystal structures and antimicrobial activities of six Ag(I) quinoline compounds. Inorganic Chemistry, 52, 4046-4060. doi: 10.1021/ic400081v

Journal - Research Article

Journal - Research Other

Bertlein, S., Brown, G. C., Lim, K. S., Juengst, T., Boeck, T., Blunk, T., … Woodfield, T., & Groll, J. (2017). Allyl glycidyl ether modified gelatin as a versatile bioink platform for biofabrication of tissue engineered constructs. Proceedings of the Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society European Chapter Meeting (TERMIS-EU). 0195. Retrieved from http://www.ecmconferences.org

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Brown, G., Soliman, B., Bertlein, S., Groll, J., Lim, K., & Woodfield, T. (2017). Photo-curable thiol-ene gelatin based hydrogel bio-inks for 3D-biofabrication of cartilage. Proceedings of the Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society European Chapter Meeting (TERMIS-EU). 0078. Retrieved from http://www.ecmconferences.org

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Brown, G. C., Lim, K. S., Farrugia, B. L., Hooper, G. J., & Woodfield, T. B. (2016). Fabrication of gelatin-heparin hydrogels with enhanced chondrogenic differentiation and tunable degradation. Frontiers in Bioengineering & Biotechnology, (WBC2016). doi: 10.3389/conf.FBIOE.2016.01.00613

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Lim, K., Klotz, B., Brown, G., Melchels, F., Gawlitta, D., & Woodfield, T. (2016). Visible light polymerised hydrogels with improved cell survival and metabolic activity. Frontiers in Bioengineering & Biotechnology, (WBC2016). doi: 10.3389/conf.FBIOE.2016.01.01746

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Brown, G., Lim, K., Woodfield, T., & Hooper, G. (2015). Strategies for temporal control of biophysical signals in biomimetic hydrogels for tissue engineering. Tissue Engineering Part A, 21(Suppl. 1), (pp. S-371-S-372). doi: 10.1089/ten.tea.2015.5000.abstracts

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Lim, K. S., Brown, G. C., Mekhileri, N. V., Schon, B. S., Hooper, G. J., & Woodfield, T. B. (2015). The effect of oxygen inhibition in biofabrication of photocrosslinked hydrogels. Tissue Engineering Part A, 21(Suppl. 1), (pp. S-32). doi: 10.1089/ten.tea.2015.5000.abstracts

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Lindberg, G. C. J., Lim, K. S., & Woodfield, T. B. F. (2014). Strategy for fabricating cell-laden ECM derived hydrogels in cartilage tissue engineering. Proceedings of the Alliance for Design and Application in Tissue Engineering 5th Tissue Engineering Symposium: Tissue Engineering for Organ Regeneration. (pp. 33-34). ADATE. Retrieved from http://web.aeromech.usyd.edu.au/ADATE/TESymposium2014.html

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Brown, G., Longoni, A., Lim, K., Rosenberg, A., Hooper, G., Gawlitta, D., & Woodfield, T. (2018, September). Vitreous humor as an extracellular matrix hydrogel for cartilage tissue engineering applications. Poster session presented at the Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society (TERMIS) 5th World Congress, Kyoto, Japan.

Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)

Lim, K. S., Atienza Roca, P., Brown, G. C. J., Hooper, G. J., & Woodfield, T. B. F. (2018, September). Photo-click gelatin-norbornene hydrogels for tissue vascularisation. Poster session presented at the Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society (TERMIS) 5th World Congress, Kyoto, Japan.

Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)

Lim, K. S., Brown, G. C. J., Soliman, B. G., Hooper, G. J., Groll, J., & Woodfield, T. B. F. (2018, September). Photo-click thiol-ene gelatin based hydrogels as bioinks for bioprinting. Poster session presented at the Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society (TERMIS) 5th World Congress, Kyoto, Japan.

Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)

Secker, D. J., Lim, K. S., Brown, G. C. J., Woodfield, T. B. F., Jiang, L.-H., Jia, X., & Yang, X. B. (2018, September). Crosslinker selection determines the properties of GelNOR hydrogels for tissue engineering applications. Poster session presented at the Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society (TERMIS) 5th World Congress, Kyoto, Japan.

Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)

Brown, G. C. J., Lim, K., Bertlein, S., Hooper, G., Groll, J., & Woodfield, T. (2017, June-July). Covalent incorporation of heparin improves chondrogenic tissue formation for 3D bioprinting of photo-curable thiol-ene gelatin based hydrogel bioinks. Poster session presented at the International Cartilage Repair Society (ICRS) Heritage Summit, Gothenburg, Sweden.

Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)

Brown, G., Soliman, B., Bertlein, S., Lim, K., Hooper, G., Groll, J., & Woodfield, T. (2016, August-September). Covalent incorporation of heparin improves chondrogenic tissue formation in gelatin based hydrogels designed for cartilage tissue engineering. Poster session presented at the Queenstown Molecular Biology (QMB) Meetings, Nelson, New Zealand.

Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)

Soliman, B. G., Brown, G. C. J., Lim, K. S., & Woodfield, T. (2016, August). Photo-curable thiol-ene gelatin based hydrogels as bioinks for bioprinting. Poster session presented at the Medical Sciences Congress (MedSci), Nelson, New Zealand.

Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)

Brown, G., Lim, K., Farrugia, B., Hooper, G., & Woodfield, T. (2015, November). Strategies for biofunctionalizing photocurable gelatin methacrylamide hydrogels for cartilage tissue engineering. Poster session presented at the International Conference on Biofabrication, Utrecht, The Netherlands.

Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)

Lindberg, G., Lim, K., & Woodfield, T. (2014, September). Strategy for biofabricating cell-laden ECM derived hydrogels in cartilage tissue engineering. Poster session presented at the Division of Health Sciences Research Forum: Learning Different Research Languages, Dunedin, New Zealand.

Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)

Soliman, B. G., Lindberg, G. C. J., Woodfield, T. B. F., & Lim, K. S. (2019, August-September). Two-step reuthenium-catalysed bioprinting of low-viscous cell-instructive bioinks as a platform for tissue-specific bioink development. Verbal presentation at the Queenstown Molecular Biology (QMB) Meetings, Queenstown, New Zealand.