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Smart 4D biodegradable metallic shape-shifting implants for dynamic tissue restoration

Project description

Novel implants for dynamic tissue regeneration

Shape-morphing materials that can be predesigned to change shape over time in response to specific cues such as a magnetic field are of great interest in healthcare and biomedical applications. Using such materials to fabricate implants means that they could exert a force on the surrounding tissue at a controlled rate and lead to tissue expansion. The EIC-funded BIOMET4D project proposes to introduce actuators and novel metallic biodegradable materials towards a new generation of implants with dynamic tissue restoration properties. The BIOMET4D implants will find application in reconstructive surgeries for example of the nose and ears.

Objective

Reconstructive surgeries frequently require multiple, often complex, procedures at high social and economic costs. A shape-morphing implant that can be implanted using less invasive procedures and that then undergoes predesigned shape changes, leading to tissue expansion and allowing for complete degradation coupled with tissue regeneration, is a radically new treatment concept. BIOMET4D aims to create a new generation of shape-shifting and load-bearing implants for dynamic tissue restoration and to introduce a revolutionary paradigm in how actuators can be implemented in biomedicine. Science-towards-technology breakthroughs will be demonstrated with new shape-morphing metamaterials, 4D smart metallic actuators, advanced multi-domain optimization tools, and finally proof-of-concept for two potential clinical applications. Technologically, this vision also goes beyond existing paradigms because of the step-by-step actuation mechanisms, enabled through the additive manufacturing of multi-material degradable metallic structures, that are targeted for an order of magnitude improvement compared to the state-of-the-art. A futuristic long-term vision of this breakthrough technology is to dynamically regenerate entire tissues, such as a nose or an ear, and proof-of-concept will be demonstrated for craniosynostosis treatment and skin expansion. This long-term vision can only be achieved through an interdisciplinary approach and will likely have high social and economic impact as well as provide a new line of research for applications of smart metamaterials in medicine and engineering.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: https://op.europa.eu/en/web/eu-vocabularies/euroscivoc.

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Coordinator

FUNDACION IMDEA MATERIALES
Net EU contribution
€ 687 481,25
Address
CALLE ERIC KANDEL 2 PARQUE CIENTIFICO Y TECNOLOGICO TECNOGETAFE
28906 Getafe
Spain

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Region
Comunidad de Madrid Comunidad de Madrid Madrid
Activity type
Research Organisations
Links
Total cost
€ 687 481,25

Participants (8)

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