Objective
Electrotherapies hold promise for diverse biomedical applications, including wound healing, pain relief, tissue regeneration, tumor ablation, inflammation reduction, and cell differentiation. However, current methods to deliver electric fields in the body often suffer from invasiveness, imprecise targeting and unintended side effects. To overcome these limitations, we propose PYROBOTS, a wireless microrobotic platform that leverages the magnetopyroelectric (MPE) effect to enable localized electrical stimulation without electrodes or internal power sources. The MPE effect arises from coupling magnetic nanostructures, which generate heat under alternating magnetic fields, with pyroelectric components that convert thermal fluctuations into electricity. This approach will allow for fully wireless, tunable, and precise electrostimulation. Drawing on expertise in nanomanufacturing, microrobotics, and magnetic actuation, PYROBOTS offers a minimally invasive, multifunctional nanosystem for targeted electrotherapies in anatomically constrained and clinically challenging environments. The ultimate goal of PYROBOTS is to demonstrate that small-scale microrobotic swarms built from MPE nanostructures can safely deliver electrotherapies within the sensitive neural environment of the spine. To explore the full therapeutic potential and boundaries of this approach, we will target two distinct clinical contexts: (1) spinal cord injury, using MPE-functionalized neuronal progenitor cells to promote neuronal differentiation and regeneration, and (2) spinal cord glioblastoma, using synthetic MPE nanoparticle swarms to induce electroporation and immune activation.
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.
- engineering and technology nanotechnology nano-materials
- natural sciences chemical sciences electrochemistry bioelectrochemistry electroporation
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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.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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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-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
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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) ERC-2025-ADG
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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.
8092 Zuerich
Switzerland
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.