Assessment of Zoan products as biomaterials for 3D printing in health care

Project Information

InnovationOrigin

Grant agreement ID: 861901

DOI

10.3030/861901

Project closed

EC signature date 8 August 2019

Start date 23 December 2019

End date 22 August 2022

Funded under

• INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Innovation In SMEs

Total cost

€ 114 687,50

EU contribution

€ 114 687,50

Coordinated by

ZOAN BIOMED LIMITED
Ireland

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - InnovationOrigin (Assessment of Zoan products as biomaterials for 3D printing in health care)

Reporting period: 2019-12-23 to 2022-08-22

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Coral has been promoted for many years as a potentially ideal bone graft substitute, able to assist in the healing of bone defects and traumas. In the past coral has not been entirely reliable due to variable strength, porosity and resorbtion time. Zoan Biomed has solved this problem by growing clonally identical corals in tightly controlled conditions and selecting species of optimal properties for particular bone grafting applications. The innovation associate project was designed to further enhance the potential for coral in biomedical applications by investigating the combination of coral skeleton material with other materials to produce printable ‘inks’ for 3D printing into new structures and forms to target new areas of treatment, including spinal or cartilage healing applications. By developing new composite biomaterials this project contributes to the rapid evolution of medical treatments currently occurring at the interface between biology, engineering and computing (‘bioconvergence’). By partnering with world-leading bioconvergence company Cellink (Bico group) as a result of the work of the Innovation Assocaite, Zoan’s contribution to the current biomedical revolution has been enhanced and new biomaterials are being developed during and beyond the lifetime of this project.

The overall objectives of the proposal were to i) explore the potential of 3D printing of coral as a future product line for the compant; ii) to develop an innovation plan around this potential ; iii) to build new partnerships for Zoan and jointly develop concepts for future projects and iv) to support the career development of the innovation associate. The project has succeeded and exceeded all of these objectives, with printing and initial evaluation of the world’s first coral bioink achieved, partnership agreement and joint patents achieved with Cellink and iii) a permanent position for the innovation associate as Head of R+D for the company.

The project is the springboard for a whole new commercial avenue for Zoan and significant impact in biomedicine and beyond.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

The main results

1) Development of a strategy and identification of opportunities around application of Zoan’s coral biomaterial to 3Dprinted applications
2) Establishment of collaborations and partnerships with academic and commercial organisations to facilitate the development of 3D printed scaffolds containing coral
3) Test prints demonstrating proof-of-concept that the coral material can be 3D printed, with the resulting scaffolds having been shown to support cell growth and proliferation
4) Funding secured for a further 12 month project developing and evaluating 3D printed coral scaffolds with key strategic partners Cellink and University of Galway.
5) Ongoing exploration of opportunities to develop new 3D printed and other biomaterials from Zoan coral, including for application beyond orthopaedics. In particular working with Cellink and researchers in coral ecophysiology and to evaluate the potential for applying 3D printed coral materials to support coral research and conservation activities.




Substantial progress has been made by the innovation associate and the IA project since the beginning of the funded period across all aspects of these objectives and beyond them.
Progress is detailed below under each objective. In summary, in support of the innovation strategy for Zoan, the IA has built an extensive network for Zoan across research, business and academia with a number of collaborations and partnerships active or in development. Zoan coral powderisation methods have been assessed and powders produced which have been tested in 2 different 3D printing methods by 2 separate 3D printing companies. The IA has contributed to and led patenting activity, brought in additional funds for R+D work with university collaborators and initiated student projects in 2 new academic partnerships in 2 separate Irish universities.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

In collaboration with Cellink and as a direct outcome of the IA project, we have created the first coral-containing bioink in the world. This ink has been printed with live cells and their survival, growth and proliferation has been demonstrated. This is highly novel and has led to a joint patent application with Cellink an after further study is likely to lead to a high impact publication. The technology we are developing has potentially significant impacts in clinical and research applications in orthopaedics including i) the development of highly customisable new medical devices for implantation in humans to heal bone and cartilage injuries; ii) the development of new tissue models for testing and evaluating new medical devices and drugs, contributing towards the ending of animal testing and iii) the development of organoids for primary biomedical research. This project has put Zoan and its new partnerships at the forefront of a growing field with huge potential to impact human health and wellbeing and the growing economic success of Ireland as a medtech ‘hub’. Furthermore the same technology may have applications in coral research and conservation / restoration which may lead to further significant impacts arising from this project.

Coral comparisons