Objective The meniscus plays a critical role in load transmission, stability and energy dissipation in the knee joint. Loss of the meniscus leads to joint degeneration and osteoarthritis. In a number of cases replacement of the resected meniscal tissue by a synthetic implant might avoid the articular cartilage degeneration. None of the available implants presents optimal biomechanics characteristic due to the fact the biomechanics functionality of the meniscus is not yet fully understood. Mimicking the native biomechanical characteristics of the menisci seems to be the key factor in meniscus replacement functioning. This is extremely challenging due to its complex inhomogeneous microstructure, the lack of a full experimental characterization of the material properties and the lack of 3D theoretical, numerical and computational models which can reproduce and validate the experimental results. Therefore, the aim of this work is a thorough understanding of the menisci biomechanics with the view of translating the knowlege to the orthopeadic implants arena. The objective of the proposal be achieved through (i) designing and performing a range of innovative experimental tests to characterize the behaviour of the meniscus tissue at the micro and macroscale, (ii) building an appropriate and novel multiscale anisotropic model at the tissue level which takes into account the fractal dimension of the porous menisci’s tissue, (iii) implementing the material model in commercial finite element (FE) software and (vi) build and validate an accurate FE biomechanical model of the knee joint (which includes the meniscus) in order to model the biomechanical behaviour of the menisci when subjected to a range of mechanical stress which is not reproducible in an experimental context. Fields of science natural sciencescomputer and information sciencessoftwarenatural sciencesbiological sciencesbiophysicsmedical and health sciencesmedical biotechnologyimplants Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Main Programme H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility Topic(s) MSCA-IF-2017 - Individual Fellowships Call for proposal H2020-MSCA-IF-2017 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MSCA-IF-EF-ST - Standard EF Coordinator UNIVERSITE DU LUXEMBOURG Net EU contribution € 95 999,77 Address 2 PLACE DE L'UNIVERSITE 4365 ESCH-SUR-ALZETTE Luxembourg See on map Region Luxembourg Luxembourg Luxembourg 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 € 95 999,77 Participants (1) Sort alphabetically Sort by Net EU contribution Expand all Collapse all UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI PALERMO Participation ended Italy Net EU contribution € 80 123,46 Address PIAZZA MARINA 61 90133 Palermo See on map Region Isole Sicilia Palermo 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 € 80 123,46