Medical nanofiber technology to prevent cerebrospinal leakage in neurosurgeries

Descrizione del progetto

Una soluzione senza suture per la neurochirurgia

In quasi un terzo degli interventi, la neurochirurgia porta a una grave complicazione nota come perdita di liquido cerebrospinale, esponendo i pazienti a infezioni. I pazienti devono sottoporsi a operazioni ripetute e la loro ripresa si prolunga, con un pesante onere clinico ed economico per i sistemi sanitari. Il progetto Nurami, finanziato dal CEI, mira a rispondere alle esigenze non soddisfatte in materia di riparazione efficace della dura madre, la membrana più esterna che circonda il cervello e il midollo spinale. Il progetto propone di utilizzare ArtiFix, un cerotto durale bioassorbibile e biocompatibile, che combina tenuta stagna, adesione al tessuto umido e promozione della guarigione durale in un unico dispositivo senza suture. ArtiFix è una piattaforma adesiva versatile che riduce complicazioni, ricoveri e costi. È importante notare che può essere adattata ad altre indicazioni chirurgiche.

Obiettivo

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks is a major post-neurosurgical complication that occurs in 4% to 32% of neurosurgeries, depending on the surgical site. It impacts millions globally, causing life-threatening infections and costs the EU an estimated €330 million each year. Prevention requires proper sealing and healing of the Dura Mater. Current dural repair treatments are suboptimal, leading to long hospital stays, extended recovery, and a high economic burden on healthcare systems.
To address this, Nurami has developed ArtiFix, a bio-absorbable, biocompatible patch, designed to seal and repair the dura and prevent CSF leaks. It features an adhesive layer for sutureless fixation and watertight sealing, plus electrospun nanofibers that promote healing of the dura. ArtiFix will be the first and only, 3-in-1 solution for dural repair on the market. It uniquely combines a sealing and healing solution that also adheres to the surgical site, even to wet tissue. ArtiFix is a new category of suture-less sealing patches targeting dural repair. It is both a Dura substitute and a sealant patch, in a single, easy to apply solution. ArtiFix will therefore replace current Dural repair products which include dura substitute patches, liquid sealants and sutures.
By reducing extra surgeries, hospitalisations, and long-term care, ArtiFix will improve patient outcomes and reduce the costs of cerebrospinal complications.

ArtiFix is a platform adhesive patch, which can be fine-tuned for implementation in numerous additional surgical procedures. In this manner, Nurami will capitalize on large, underserved and growing multi-billion-dollar market opportunity with significant commercial opportunities.

Nurami has an outstanding multidisciplinary team supported by strong scientific advisory board and active board of directors, and is capital efficient being able to achieve preliminary product commercialization for its first product in pipeline following total funding to date of only €14.8M.