Objective
Tendinopathies and osteoarthritis (OA) are extremely common and these injuries associate with high health and socioeconomic costs, long-term postoperative rehabilitation, and loss of productivity. To date, none of the existing surgical or non-surgical alternatives have provided a successful long-term effect, and often the treated tissues do not restore their complete strength and functionality.
To fill the critical gap of proper treatments TRiAnkle proposes to develop 3D bioprinted scaffolds based on collagen and gelatine, functionalised with stem cells and/or nanoencapsulated regenerative factors. The surgical implantation of these new functionalised biomaterials will enable the targeted delivery of the mentioned biologically active agents to promote cell growth and differentiation to enable better and faster regeneration of injured collagen-rich tissues like articular cartilage, ligament and tendon of the ankle. Two case-studies will be implemented: the partial rupture (>50%) of Achilles tendon and osteochondral cartilage injuries, which will serve as a technological platform to deliver new regenerative therapies for any other articular, tendinous or ligament diseases of weight-bearing joints.
By achieving this goal, TRiAnkle will enable, in comparison with current surgical treatments:
- To increase by 10-15% of the ankle joints functionality recovery ratios due to the presence of pro-regenerative components that promote the healing process decreasing also the risk of re-rupture or recidivation.
- To reduce the recovery time and the associated healthcare costs up to 50% due to the use of scaffolds that mimic the natural structure and mechanical properties of joint tissues.
TRiAnkle will be implemented by a multidisciplinary team made up of biomaterial production companies, manufacturing technologies experts, material engineers, preclinical validation centers, healthcare professionals, patients associations and experts in ethical, regulatory and exploitation.
Field of science
- /social sciences/economics and business/economics/production economics/productivity
- /medical and health sciences/medical biotechnology/cells technologies/stem cells
- /engineering and technology/industrial biotechnology/biomaterials
Programme(s)
Call for proposal
H2020-NMBP-TR-IND-2020-twostage
See other projects for this call
Funding Scheme
RIA - Research and Innovation actionCoordinator
69469 Weinheim
Germany
Participants (11)
413 46 Goteborg
80686 Munchen
70174 Stuttgart
48940 Leioa
5612 AE Eindhoven
08225 Terrassa
08028 Barcelona
08006 Barcelona
08036 Barcelona
28760 Tres Cantos Madrid
CB23 5BN Cambridge
