Descripción del proyecto
Frenar los efectos de la artrosis
La artrosis, una enfermedad de las articulaciones que supone la degeneración del cartílago articular y el hueso subyacente, es la causa más común de dolor y discapacidad en personas de mediana edad y ancianos. El objetivo del proyecto ADMAIORA, financiado con fondos europeos, es ayudar a las personas con artrosis a llevar un estilo de vida activo y saludable al frenar o prevenir el proceso de degeneración. El consorcio del proyecto está desarrollando hidrogeles biosintéticos con nanopartículas piezoeléctricas que responden a la estimulación inalámbrica con ultrasonidos a distancia. Los hidrogeles contendrán células madre con propiedades antiinflamatorias y regenerativas, y se administrarán «in situ» mediante una innovadora bioimpresora tridimensional compacta. Unas sondas ecográficas diseñadas a medida permitirán supervisar el estado de las articulaciones y la estimulación del biomaterial piezoeléctrico implantado a fin de mejorar la regeneración del cartílago.
Objetivo
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a major burden that affects ~ 40 million of EU citizens, with enormous direct and indirect costs for the European healthcare systems, quantified in ~ 50.4 billion euros per year. This disease involves the degeneration of cartilage and other joint structures and is one of the most common causes of pain and disability in middle-aged and elderly people. ADMAIORA aims in the long-term at increasing the healthy and active lifespan of people affected by OA, by considerably slowing down or even stopping the degeneration process, thus delaying or avoiding surgical interventions for total joint replacement. Within the project time-frame the target is to achieve a 60% reduction of degeneration in OA animal models treated with the ADMAIORA technologies, with respect to control (untreated) ones, after 4 weeks, and a 90% reduction after 3 months. To achieve this ambitious objective the Consortium will evolve and merge technologies that already showed a high potential as experimental proof of concepts (TRL = 3) and will bring them at a preclinical level (TRL = 5). The ADMAIORA Consortium will develop biosynthetic hydrogels embedded with carbon-based nanomaterials, conferring higher mechanical and lubrication properties, and piezoelectric nanoparticles enabling responsivity to remote wireless ultrasound waves. Stem cells derived from autologous adipose tissue, which already demonstrated anti-inflammatory and regenerative properties, will be entrapped in the hydrogels. Materials and cells will be delivered in situ through an innovative handheld 3D bioprinter, embedded in an arthroscopic tool. A custom brace will be designed and equipped with ultrasound probes for both monitoring the joint status and stimulating the implanted piezoelectric nanobiomaterial. A dedicated App will allow a direct connection between patient and physician in an Internet of Things framework. Overall, ADMAIORA will target a ground-breaking paradigm that may revolutionize OA treatment.
Ámbito científico
- medical and health sciencesmedical biotechnologycells technologiesstem cells
- medical and health sciencesclinical medicinesurgerysurgical procedures
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectrical engineeringpiezoelectrics
- engineering and technologymaterials engineeringnanocomposites
- natural sciencesphysical sciencesacousticsultrasound
Palabras clave
Programa(s)
Convocatoria de propuestas
Consulte otros proyectos de esta convocatoriaConvocatoria de subcontratación
H2020-NMBP-TR-IND-2018
Régimen de financiación
RIA - Research and Innovation actionCoordinador
56127 Pisa
Italia