Forum for Science, Industry and Business

5,5 millions for project on smart matrices for knee cartilage repair

A research project in cartilage regeneration, in which the Institute of Orthopaedic Research and Biomechanics at Ulm University participates together with partners from eight european countries, was recently financed by the European Commission with 5.5 million Euro.

Worldwide millions of people suffer from knee osteoarthritis

Symbolic picture: Prof. Lutz Dürselen

Prof. Lutz Dürselen

Photo: Heiko Grandel

Named RESTORE, the project aims to create 3D matrices incorporating smart nanomaterials to repair knee cartilage lesions thereby reducing or delaying the onset of osteoarthritis, which currently affects 242 million people worldwide.

These matrices, explains Meriem Lamghari, researcher at "Instituto de Investigação e Inovação" ( i3S) and the coordinator of this European consortium, "are tailored so that they can be implanted and fill the injury site as well as respond to the knee joint mechanical forces.

Moreover, they contain smart nanoparticles with regenerative, anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties.

The nanoparticles with regenerative properties can, whenever necessary, be remotely activated with non-invasive methods". For that the project's team will develop a knee brace equipped with sensors capable of activating the nanoparticles present in the implanted matrix".

The work developed by the Ulm University team, who will receive around 409 000 Euro, will concentrate on the biomechanical characterization of the matrices and on preclinical testing, explains Prof. Lutz Dürselen from the Institute of Orthopaedic Research and Biomechanics in Ulm.

RESTORE emerges following constructive discussions between orthopaedic surgeons, tissue engineers, materials researchers and cellular biologists to answer pressing clinical needs. Therefore, explains Meriem Lamghari, "we are proposing two matrices, one based on a polymer already clinically tested in the veterinary sector, namely in large animals, for large knee cartilage lesions; and another matrix generated using bioprinting technology, composed by cartilage cells of human origin to which we will also incorporate the smart nanoparticles. This matrix is more adequate for small lesions".

The consortium, which will develop the project during the next 44 months with the participation of partners from Portugal, Spain, Italy, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and Finland, will work together with the Institute of Orthopaedic Research and Biomechanics at Ulm University (Director: Prof. Anita Ignatius)

Text with material from Meriem Lamghari, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação (i3s), Universität Porto, Portugal

Wissenschaftliche Ansprechpartner:

Prof. Dr. Lutz Dürselen: 0731/500-55333, lutz.duerselen@uni-ulm.de

Annika Bingmann | idw - Informationsdienst Wissenschaft
Further information:
http://www.uni-ulm.de/

Im Focus: Megakaryocytes act as „bouncers“ restraining cell migration in the bone marrow

Scientists at the University Würzburg and University Hospital of Würzburg found that megakaryocytes act as “bouncers” and thus modulate bone marrow niche properties and cell migration dynamics. The study was published in July in the Journal “Haematologica”.

Hematopoiesis is the process of forming blood cells, which occurs predominantly in the bone marrow. The bone marrow produces all types of blood cells: red...

Im Focus: Artificial neural network resolves puzzles from condensed matter physics: Which is the perfect quantum theory?

For some phenomena in quantum many-body physics several competing theories exist. But which of them describes a quantum phenomenon best? A team of researchers from the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and Harvard University in the United States has now successfully deployed artificial neural networks for image analysis of quantum systems.

Is that a dog or a cat? Such a classification is a prime example of machine learning: artificial neural networks can be trained to analyze images by looking...

Im Focus: Extremely hard yet metallically conductive: Bayreuth researchers develop novel material with high-tech prospects

An international research group led by scientists from the University of Bayreuth has produced a previously unknown material: Rhenium nitride pernitride. Thanks to combining properties that were previously considered incompatible, it looks set to become highly attractive for technological applications. Indeed, it is a super-hard metallic conductor that can withstand extremely high pressures like a diamond. A process now developed in Bayreuth opens up the possibility of producing rhenium nitride pernitride and other technologically interesting materials in sufficiently large quantity for their properties characterisation. The new findings are presented in "Nature Communications".

The possibility of finding a compound that was metallically conductive, super-hard, and ultra-incompressible was long considered unlikely in science. It was...

Im Focus: Modelling leads to the optimum size for platinum fuel cell catalysts: Activity of fuel cell catalysts doubled

An interdisciplinary research team at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) has built platinum nanoparticles for catalysis in fuel cells: The new size-optimized catalysts are twice as good as the best process commercially available today.

Fuel cells may well replace batteries as the power source for electric cars. They consume hydrogen, a gas which could be produced for example using surplus...

Im Focus: The secret of mushroom colors

Mushrooms: Darker fruiting bodies in cold climates

The fly agaric with its red hat is perhaps the most evocative of the diverse and variously colored mushroom species. Hitherto, the purpose of these colors was...