Description du projet
Ralentir les effets de l’osthéoarthrite
L’osthéoarthrite (OA), une maladie des articulations impliquant la dégénérescence du cartilage de l’articulation et de l’os sous-jacent, est la cause de douleur et de handicap la plus courante chez les personnes d’âge moyen et les personnes âgées. Le projet ADMAIORA, financé par l’UE, entend aider les personnes atteintes d’OA à adopter un mode de vie sain et actif en ralentissant ou en prévenant le processus de dégénérescence. Le consortium développe des hydrogels biosynthétiques dotés de nanoparticules piézoélectriques réactives à la simulation par ultrasons sans fil à distance. Les hydrogels contiendront des cellules souches aux propriétés anti-inflammatoires et régénératrices, et ils seront administrés in situ en recourant à une bio-imprimante 3D portable innovante. Des sondes à ultrasons conçues sur mesure permettront de suivre l’état de l’articulation et de stimuler le biomatériau piézoélectrique implanté, afin d’améliorer la régénération du cartilage.
Objectif
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.
Champ scientifique
- 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
Mots‑clés
Programme(s)
Régime de financement
RIA - Research and Innovation actionCoordinateur
56127 Pisa
Italie