Objective New materials are now opening clinical treatments in which a temporary scaffold is used to support regeneration of healthy tissue. The specific need that inspires our research is for thinner and stronger bioresorbable vascular scaffolds (BVS) for coronary heart disease. BVS are poised to replace metal stents due to the excellent clinical outcomes: beyond keeping the vessel open during the first six months after surgery, the BVS leaves behind a healthy blood vessel after the scaffold is gone, being completely absorbed by the body approximately two years after surgery. The material that has achieved clinical approval for BVS is poly(L-lactic acid), PLLA. It is not as strong and stiff as metals, so the scaffold is three times thicker than the metal stents, making it more difficult for surgeons to move through arteries to reach the site of the lesion. Thinner Scaffolds that can be seen by x-ray imaging during surgery would facilitate adoption of the technology and benefit thousands of patients in the EU and US. The proposed Action will provide the fundamental understanding needed to reinforce PLLA by tungsten disulphide (WS2) nanotubes to achieve both the strength and x-ray opacity needed. Improving materials for BVS requires an interdisciplinary approach by materials science, polymer processing, and bioengineering. The proposed Action will connect EU scientists with a polymer scientist at Caltech in the US who has specialized knowledge of PLLA BVS and the relevant structure-processing-property relationships (Kornfield). European scientists bring expertise in WS2 nanotubes that are powerful additives for enhancing polymer properties (Di Luccio), compounding polymers with nanotubes (McNally), biaxial stretching to induce strength and orientation in polymers (Menary), multiscale modeling to connect nanoscale to continuum scale (Figiel), multimethod characterization of structure in nanocomposites (Schiller) and the response of cells to nanoparticles (Kornfield). Fields of science natural scienceschemical sciencesinorganic chemistrytransition metalsnatural scienceschemical sciencespolymer sciencesengineering and technologynanotechnologynano-materialsnatural sciencescomputer and information sciencescomputational sciencemultiphysicsengineering and technologymaterials engineeringnanocomposites Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Main Programme H2020-EU.1.3.3. - Stimulating innovation by means of cross-fertilisation of knowledge Topic(s) MSCA-RISE-2015 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Research and Innovation Staff Exchange (RISE) Call for proposal H2020-MSCA-RISE-2015 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MSCA-RISE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Research and Innovation Staff Exchange (RISE) Coordinator AGENZIA NAZIONALE PER LE NUOVE TECNOLOGIE, L'ENERGIA E LO SVILUPPO ECONOMICO SOSTENIBILE Net EU contribution € 139 500,00 Address LUNGOTEVERE GRANDE AMMIRAGLIO THAON DI REVEL 76 00196 Roma Italy See on map Region Centro (IT) Lazio Roma Activity type Research Organisations Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 157 500,00 Participants (2) Sort alphabetically Sort by Net EU contribution Expand all Collapse all THE QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY OF BELFAST United Kingdom Net EU contribution € 135 000,00 Address UNIVERSITY ROAD LANYON BUILDING BT7 1NN Belfast See on map Region Northern Ireland Northern Ireland Belfast Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 153 000,00 THE UNIVERSITY OF WARWICK United Kingdom Net EU contribution € 67 500,00 Address Kirby Corner Road - University House CV4 8UW Coventry See on map Region West Midlands (England) West Midlands Coventry Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 90 000,00 Partners (1) Sort alphabetically Sort by Net EU contribution Expand all Collapse all Partner Partner organisations contribute to the implementation of the action, but do not sign the Grant Agreement. CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGYCORP United States Net EU contribution € 0,00 Address EAST CALIFORNIA BOULEVARD 1200 91125 Pasadena See on map Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 58 500,00