Descrizione del progetto
L’Università di Aveiro rafforza la sua capacità d’innovazione nei biomateriali per la sanità
I biopolimeri, molecole naturali composte da monomeri più brevi, comprendono proteine e polisaccaridi. Gli scienziati hanno sfruttato queste molecole biocompatibili e biodegradabili per importanti applicazioni mediche, ma le loro prestazioni sono spesso ostacolate da bioattività, reattività agli stimoli e proprietà meccaniche limitate. L’integrazione di biopolimeri con motivi autoassemblanti potrebbe superare questi ostacoli. L’autoassemblaggio, l’associazione non covalente di subunità di materiali in schemi e strutture altamente ordinati, è un modo per ottenere proprietà dinamiche uniche e (multi)funzionalità non ottenibili con la chimica sintetica convenzionale. Il progetto SUPRALIFE, finanziato dall’UE, creerà una rete scientifica e formativa internazionale per migliorare la capacità di innovazione dell’Università di Aveiro, in Portogallo, per quanto riguarda lo sviluppo di biomateriali multifunzionali supramolecolari innovativi da interfacciare con i sistemi viventi.
Obiettivo
SUPRALIFE addresses current hurdles of UAVR in the supramolecular biomaterials’ chemistry field regarding its scientific know-how and partnerships with world-leading institutions. UAVR seeks to improve the multifunctionality of biopolymers, often with limited bioactivity, stimuli-responsiveness and mechanical properties, and increase their performance in biomedical applications. Biopolymers integration with self-assembling motifs would enable the development of innovative supramolecular architectures with bioinstructive and adaptive behaviour for enhanced cellular response, drug delivery and diagnosis. SUPRALIFE aims to surpass UAVR’s limited knowledge and expertise on non-covalent synthesis by launching an international scientific and training network to accelerate the pace on developing complex and innovative supramolecular multifunctional biomaterials to interface with living systems. The consortium encompasses UAVR and two internationally-leading institutions, TU/e and UBx, that will critically enhance UAVR’s scientific excellence, innovation capacity, and reputation in supramolecular chemistry and translational self-assembling biomaterials. UAVR’s capability to train highly-qualified researchers and staff will significantly increase, giving rise to a next-generation of specialised professionals with scientific and translational competences. SUPRALIFE proposes the organisation of joint events, networking activities, short-term on-site trainings and staff exchanges, expert visits, and an exploratory research project for stepping up and stimulating UAVR scientific excellence and innovation capacity. Outputs include increasing the track-record and quality level of publications, IP, innovative biomedical products and regional-to-national economic development. SUPRALIFE will empower the establishment of a ground-breaking and long-lasting collaborative consortium for steadily and sustainably pursuing new joint research projects and innovative research lines at UAVR.
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Meccanismo di finanziamento
HORIZON-AG - HORIZON Action Grant Budget-BasedCoordinatore
3810-193 Aveiro
Portogallo