WP1 activities focused on the management of the project, the organization of project meetings; the monitoring of the progress on daily basis; the finalization of project reports and deliverables; the approval of payment orders; the quality assessment of project outcomes, the monitoring of ethical issues and the monitoring gender equality and major society-related aspects. All the mentioned activities were covered successfully, providing an efficient management support and monitoring of the project, helping and boosting all the relevant activities.
WP2 focused on developing magnetically modified contrast agents for MRI imaging that are sensitive to enzymatic activity and radiolabel them to work also as contrast agents for nuclear imaging. Different methodologies were used to attach MNPs on the collagen and to test through several characterization techniques the resulting structural, stability, magnetic and sensitivity to enzymes activity related properties. As a result, contrast agents that are magnetically modified for MRI imaging and that are sensitive to enzymatic activity were created, also in a form that is easily radiolabelled to also act as nuclear scintigraphic contrast agents.
WP3 focused on incorporating contrast agents into 3D high-density bone grafts and hydrohyapatite microparticles to read non-invasively metaloprotease activity in multicell bioreactors in vitro and in vivo.
The method to incorporating the MNPs to the mineralized scaffold was established and samples were characterized using infrared spectroscopy, thermal gravimetry, X ray diffraction, SEM, AFM and magnetic studies. Once the hybrid Coll/HA material was prepared, it was extensively washed and lyophilized and sterilized through gamma rays to prepare the scaffold materials ready to use in the in vivo experiments.
As a result, incorporating the MNPs to the mineralized scaffold was successfully performed, creating homogeneously labelled materials that have been confirmed to properly allow bone regeneration.
WP4 focused on following the evolution of cell differentiation, inflammation and integration of grafts in animal models using non-invasive imaging.
The main task of this WP, included the creation of an animal defect model and the dispersion of the prepared collagen material on the small animal bone injury models (mice) to be monitored through SPECT and CT imaging. The procedure to also incorporate the magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) as a contrast agent was followed and MRI tests were performed to validate the image contrast induction.
Results proved the creation and establishment of a complete imaging platform that can non-invasively monitor the evaluation of new bone graphs, in bone formation schemes, through multi-modal imaging. The complementary information gathered through SPECT, CT and MRI imaging was demonstrated and exploited towards the creation of the imaging platform.
WP5 focused on ensuring efficient communication and dissemination of project outcomes to dedicated and broader audience, incorporating several training activities. By the closing of the project the several activities were completed including:
Creation of project logo, poster, brochure and website. Citation in social media.
Participation in public events, workshops, conferences, satellite events.
2 publications in peer-review journals.
Training activities (1 summer school, 2 courses, 1 PhD thesis, 1 scholarship).
