Periodic Reporting for period 1 - ArtPlac (Artificial Placenta (ArtPlac) - Miniaturized Integrated Lung and Kidney Support for Critically Ill Newborns)
Periodo di rendicontazione: 2023-04-01 al 2024-03-31
ArtPlac seeks to address a significant and urgent challenge in neonatal care: the high mortality and long-term morbidity associated with severe lung and kidney failure in newborns. Each year, over two million neonatal deaths occur globally, a large portion of which are attributed to the inadequacies of current treatment technologies. These devices, often adapted from adult designs, fail to meet the specific physiological needs of newborns, leading to poor outcomes, including chronic disabilities and prolonged hospitalizations. In addition, these treatments are highly invasive, requiring mechanical ventilation and multiple surgically placed lines, which can cause severe side effects and lifelong consequences.
The ArtPlac project offers a transformative solution. By designing an artificial placenta inspired by the natural organ, the project introduces a compact device that integrates lung and kidney support. This device connects via the umbilical cord, providing gentle, physiological care that enables newborns to breathe and feed naturally while recovering. ArtPlac envisions a radical improvement in neonatal care by increasing access to life-saving extracorporeal support, reducing complications, and promoting family-centered developmental care. With its scalable and resource-efficient design, ArtPlac addresses global health inequities by ensuring its application in both advanced and low-resource healthcare settings. By tackling preventable neonatal deaths, ArtPlac aligns with international goals, including the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3, which emphasizes health and well-being for all.
The ArtPlac project offers a transformative solution. By designing an artificial placenta inspired by the natural organ, the project introduces a compact device that integrates lung and kidney support. This device connects via the umbilical cord, providing gentle, physiological care that enables newborns to breathe and feed naturally while recovering. ArtPlac envisions a radical improvement in neonatal care by increasing access to life-saving extracorporeal support, reducing complications, and promoting family-centered developmental care. With its scalable and resource-efficient design, ArtPlac addresses global health inequities by ensuring its application in both advanced and low-resource healthcare settings. By tackling preventable neonatal deaths, ArtPlac aligns with international goals, including the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3, which emphasizes health and well-being for all.
ArtPlac has made significant progress in developing and validating its innovative technologies. The project has achieved critical milestones in device design, testing, and clinical readiness. The ArtPlac prototypes, which integrate lung oxygenation and kidney dialysis systems into a single device, have been optimized to meet the unique requirements of neonates. These systems are designed with a minimal blood priming volume to reduce stress on the infant’s cardiovascular system while ensuring effective organ support. The inclusion of real-time monitoring capabilities enables continuous assessment of vital parameters such as blood gases, pressure, and flow, providing adaptive and personalized care tailored to each patient’s needs.
To enhance the safety and efficacy of the device, the consortium has developed biomimetic coatings that improve hemocompatibility, reducing the risk of clotting without requiring systemic anticoagulation. This innovation addresses a major limitation of current extracorporeal systems. In parallel, new expandable umbilical catheters have been created to provide safe and minimally invasive vascular access, preserving the umbilical vessels for long-term use. These technical breakthroughs have been supported by extensive in vitro testing and advanced simulations, minimizing the need for animal studies. Preclinical protocols using lamb and piglet models have also been prepared to validate the safety and effectiveness of the device in clinically relevant scenarios. ArtPlac’s focus on scalability and adaptability ensures that the technology can benefit a wide range of newborns, from extremely preterm infants to those weighing up to 5 kilograms.
To enhance the safety and efficacy of the device, the consortium has developed biomimetic coatings that improve hemocompatibility, reducing the risk of clotting without requiring systemic anticoagulation. This innovation addresses a major limitation of current extracorporeal systems. In parallel, new expandable umbilical catheters have been created to provide safe and minimally invasive vascular access, preserving the umbilical vessels for long-term use. These technical breakthroughs have been supported by extensive in vitro testing and advanced simulations, minimizing the need for animal studies. Preclinical protocols using lamb and piglet models have also been prepared to validate the safety and effectiveness of the device in clinically relevant scenarios. ArtPlac’s focus on scalability and adaptability ensures that the technology can benefit a wide range of newborns, from extremely preterm infants to those weighing up to 5 kilograms.
ArtPlac represents a significant leap forward in neonatal care, introducing technologies that address the limitations of current systems. The integration of lung and kidney support into a single device eliminates the need for multiple invasive machines, simplifying care and reducing risks. The device’s real-time monitoring capabilities allow for continuous, precise adjustments to therapy, avoiding delays that can result from intermittent manual measurements. By connecting to preserved umbilical vessels, ArtPlac reduces the need for painful and complex surgical procedures, enhancing both safety and comfort for patients.
The compact and scalable design of ArtPlac enables its application in diverse healthcare environments, including low-resource settings where access to advanced neonatal care is limited. Its innovative approach has implications beyond neonatal care. The underlying technologies, such as biomimetic coatings, integrated sensors, and advanced microfluidic systems, can be adapted for adult extracorporeal therapies, organ transplantation, and chronic disease management. These innovations open new possibilities for wearable devices, portable organ support systems, and improved solutions for patients with conditions like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or acute kidney injury. By advancing the state of the art, ArtPlac establishes a platform for transformative healthcare solutions that extend across populations and medical needs.
The compact and scalable design of ArtPlac enables its application in diverse healthcare environments, including low-resource settings where access to advanced neonatal care is limited. Its innovative approach has implications beyond neonatal care. The underlying technologies, such as biomimetic coatings, integrated sensors, and advanced microfluidic systems, can be adapted for adult extracorporeal therapies, organ transplantation, and chronic disease management. These innovations open new possibilities for wearable devices, portable organ support systems, and improved solutions for patients with conditions like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or acute kidney injury. By advancing the state of the art, ArtPlac establishes a platform for transformative healthcare solutions that extend across populations and medical needs.