Project description
Injectable biomaterial for degenerated intervertebral disc treatment
Lower back pain is a prevalent issue worldwide. Current surgical procedures fail to address the root cause and exhibit high long-term failure rates. A novel injectable hydrogel known as iDISC, composed of collagen and chondroitin sulphate, has been developed. Possessing self-healing and adhesive properties, it is also customisable and biocompatible. In this context, the ERC-funded iDISC project will create a biomimetic adhesive biomaterial for treating degenerated intervertebral discs. By developing these injectable biomimetic hydrogel systems, earlier interventions to halt the degenerative process, restore natural biomechanical function, enhance patient accessibility, improve quality of life, reduce healthcare expenses and minimise lost productivity in the EU can be facilitated. The project will undertake in vitro testing, preclinical evaluations and commercialisation assessments.
Objective
Lower back pain is a global epidemiological and socioeconomic problem. This project envisions a future whereby patients with degenerated intervertebral discs are injected with a self-healing biomimetic adhesive biomaterial which can restore both the biochemical and biomechanical properties to native tissue levels. Current surgical procedures do not replace herniated tissue from the central nucleus pulposus or repair the annulus fibrosus (outer ring of tissue), which can lead to accelerated degeneration, reherniation and recurrent pain. Spinal fusion, whereby the compromised or degenerated tissue is removed, and the vertebral segments are fused together, does not restore biomechanical function leading to degeneration of adjacent discs with long-term failure rates as high as 40%. My lab has developed a biomimetic injectable hydrogel (iDISC) consisting of the main components (collagen and chondroitin sulfate) of native disc tissue that can be tailored to match the biochemical and biomechanical properties of native disc tissue. In addition, the iDISC hydrogel demonstrates self-healing and adhesive properties to facilitate tissue integration and exhibits excellent cell biocompatibility. The objective of this proposal is to perform in depth in vitro characterisation (WP1), multiaxial biomechanical testing (WP2), pre-clinical evaluation (WP3) and marketing and commercialisation evaluation (WP4). The development of these injectable biomimetic hydrogel systems may facilitate earlier interventions aimed at halting the degenerative process, restore natural biomechanical function, enhancing patient accessibility, improving quality of life, reduce healthcare expenses and lost productivity in the European Union. The platform technology and knowledge generated through this research are beyond the current state-of-the-art and will provide a significant transformative scientific and clinical step change opening new horizons in minimally invasive spine treatment strategies.
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.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques.
- social scienceseconomics and businesseconomicsproduction economicsproductivity
- engineering and technologyindustrial biotechnologybiomaterials
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Programme(s)
- HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme
Funding Scheme
HORIZON-ERC-POC - HORIZON ERC Proof of Concept GrantsHost institution
D02 CX56 Dublin
Ireland