Objective
The concept behind MOZART is to develop a library of inorganic nanomatrices to be used as smart platforms for effective, non-invasive and highly targeted therapies. MOZART will address, as proof of concept, nanomatrices to treat delayed bone healing and non-healing chronic skin wounds, which are both characterised by an inflammation and often infection. Mesoporous therapeutic glasses (MTGs), doped with selected ions (e.g. Ag+, Li+, Cu2+, Sr2+, Ce3+, B3+) and having nanopores of adjustable size within 2-50 nm, will be synthesised and then loaded with the chosen payload. Ordered mesoporous carbons (OMCs) will also be manufactured to host a wide range of biomolecules and higher payload. As in an orchestra, where the integration among the different participants allows a harmonious symphony to be created, in MOZART the synergistic release of ions and drugs will be directed to achieve a radically improved therapeutic effect. The exploitation of the response of self-immolative polymer coatings upon pH changes will be used as an elegant and effective way for triggering the payload release. The (coated) nanomatrices will be incorporated in a thermosensitive gel that is liquid at room temperature and undergoes sol-gel transition in the physiological environment. These gels are perfect candidates to develop non-invasive procedures to introduce MOZART nanomatrices to the pathological site and keep them in place for the required time. Clinical and societal impacts of MOZART will be enormous, considering the extraordinarily high number of pathological cases potentially involved. Only in EU, 350 000 patients per year are affected by non-union bone fractures and 2.2 million people suffer from chronic wounds. We expect that MOZART approaches will significantly reduce the healing time of non-union bone fractures (within 4 months vs. a minimum of 12 months) and will allow at least 50% of people suffering from chronic wounds to heal fully.
Fields of science
- engineering and technologymaterials engineeringcoating and films
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringwaste management
- medical and health sciencesbasic medicinepharmacology and pharmacydrug resistanceantibiotic resistance
- medical and health sciencesclinical medicinesurgery
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomolecules
- humanitiesartsart historymusicology
- natural scienceschemical sciencesinorganic chemistryinorganic compounds
Programme(s)
Call for proposal
H2020-NMP-PILOTS-2015
See other projects for this call
Funding Scheme
RIA - Research and Innovation actionCoordinator
10129 Torino
Italy
Participants (10)
91054 Erlangen
28040 Madrid
15341 Agia Paraskevi
10117 Berlin
S10 2TN Sheffield
168 41 Bromma
25062 Concesio
N91 F6PD Mullingar, Westmeath
12159 Berlin
20520 Turku