Project description
Proprietary technology for ear drum repair
Every year, over 30 million people suffer from tympanic membrane damage, which leads to hearing loss and negatively impacts their quality of life. The EU-funded STICK2HEAL project proposes an alternative strategy to conventional therapeutic solutions: a micropatterned polymer surface with a novel adhesive function that doesn't require glue. The technology was developed during the EU-funded SWITCH2STICK project and provides support for cell growth and proliferation as well as drug delivery. STICK2HEAL will validate the product in a preclinical model, but it is expected to find other medical applications in addition to ear drum repair.
Objective
The ERC ADG “Engineering of biomimetic surfaces – Switchable micropatterns for controlled adhesion and touch” (SWITCH2STICK) has developed micropatterned polymer surfaces for innovative adhesive functions without glues, based on the “gecko adhesion principle”. While robotic applications were originally in the focus of these developments, a radically new application field of these microstructures will be taken to the initial steps of application and subsequent commercialization: the repair of injuries of the human tympanic membrane. Tympanic membrane damage is a frequent medical affliction, affecting over 30 million patients worldwide each year. It results in hearing loss, associated with a dramatic impact of the patients’ quality of life and a significant healthcare burden. Our invention suggests a new therapeutic option to replace conventional therapies: Wound management with a novel gecko-inspired surface structure. In collaboration with clinicians, the feasibility of the new technology has been demonstrated. When designed for interaction with skin, our surfaces cling reliably to mouse ear drums for up to 28 days. In addition to the adhesive function, they provide support for cell growth and proliferation and allow the option of local drug delivery due to the micropattern. Besides detailed market analyses and dissemination, activities in the proposed project range from a technical and pre-clinical validation in an animal model to establishing an IPR strategy and an initiation of the medical product certification. Our invention will overcome several critical limitations of existing solutions. Besides ear-drum repair, the project enables a wide field of additional medical applications ranging from electrode fixation to the fitting of wearable healthcare electronics. This PoC project is therefore to be seen as a preparatory step for exploring the market potential of various micropatterned medical surfaces and preparing a solid commercialization in this field.
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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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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H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - 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.
ERC-POC - Proof of Concept Grant
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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-2018-PoC
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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.
66123 Saarbruecken
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.