Project description
In situ 4D bioprinting of colorectal mucosa and submucosa
Inflammation of the mucosa and submucosa layers of the anus, rectum and colon are characteristic of colorectal diseases. In severe cases, removal of the intestinal mucosa and submucosa could provide relief. However, there is currently no replacement therapy, meaning the rectum and all or part of the colon are removed, and surgeons create an ileal pouch (a small reservoir in the body) to replace them, preserving the patient's continence albeit with significant complications. The EU-funded TENTACLE project aims to enable regeneration of colorectal mucosa and submucosa via an in situ 4D bioprinting system. It will include bioink formulations containing patients’ cells and 4D shape morphing to recreate the colorectal mucosal crypts.
Objective
Colorectal diseases are a cohort of pathologies that affect the mucosa and submucosa layers of the anus, rectum, and colon of more than 2 million individual in the EU. Among them, familiar adenomatous polyposis (FAP) and ulcerative colitis (UC) seriously compromise the patients’ quality of life. These pathologies could benefit from the removal of the intestinal mucosa and submucosa, however no strategies exist nowadays for their replacement. Then, when their removal is necessary, the patients undergo a proctocolectomy (i.e. surgical removal of the rectum and all or part of the colon) with a subsequent ileal pouch. Although preserving the patient's continence, the procedure is burdened by significant complications.
In this scenario, TENTACLE pioneers a radically new strategy for the surgical treatment of UC and FAP, providing an innovative in situ 4D bioprinting strategy, for the regeneration of colorectal mucosa and submucosa. The TENTACLE in situ 4D bioprinting suite include: i) a colonoscopic bioprinter, featuring an extrusion-based bioprinting unit, an valvejet printhead, a mesh delivery system and a photocrosslinking device; ii) in silico tools for personalizing the bioprinting procedure; iii) two novel bespoken bioink formulations containing patients’ cells, including suitable functionalization strategies. The mucosal formulation will feature a 4D shape morphing behavior to recreate the colorectal mucosal crypts.
Within TENTACLE, the entire procedure will be validated ex vivo and in vivo, thus paving the way for translating the bioprinting suite toward the clinics, by: i) identifying a GMP-compliant cell expansion protocol, ii) scaling up of the manufacturing routes, iii) promoting involvement and acceptance of surgeons and patients, iv) aligning with the EU regulation. Collectively, our project will introduce a minimally invasive alternative to proctocolectomy and is expected to have a high impact on the quality of life of patients affected by FAP and UC.
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: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.2.1 - Health
MAIN PROGRAMME
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HORIZON.2.1.5 - Tools, Technologies and Digital Solutions for Health and Care, including personalised medicine
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-RIA - HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-HLTH-2024-TOOL-11
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
97080 WURZBURG
Germany
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.