Acronym TUNIGUIDE
Category
Marine Biotechnology
Title Norwegian Marine Biopolymers as Injectable Hydrogels for Tissue and Organ Repair Programme National Programme
Instrument (FP6)
Contact Type (FP7)
Strand (Interreg)
NA
Theme (FP7)
Activity Area (FP6)
Regional Area (Interreg)
Action (COST)
NA
Specific Programme (FP7)
NA
Funding source National Coordinator Eric Thompson Coordinator email NA
Coordinator institution
NA
Institutions involved
NA
Start year 2021 End year 2023 Funding (€) € 1,200,000 Website https://prosjektbanken.forskningsradet.no/project/FORISS/317790?Kilde=FORISS&distribution=Ar&chart=bar&calcType=funding&Sprak=no&sortBy=date&sortOrder=desc&resultCount=30&offset=0&Prosjektleder=Kenneth+Hugdahl Summary This project will develop biocompatible, injectable, in situ gelling hydrogel formulations based on Norwegian marine biopolymers, tunicate nanocellulose fibrils and alginate, for tissue and organ repair and regeneration. Donor organ shortages are a serious global problem resulting in high mortality rates of people on transplant waiting lists and leads some people to obtain organs through illegal, unethical pathways. Tissue engineering, in which biomaterials are combined with cells, offers an important alternative to help resolve this global healthcare problem. Hydrogels, materials composed of a hydrophilic polymer network capable of high hydration, yet retaining structural integrity, are attractive biomaterials in that they are biocompatible and can be tuned to deliver therapeutic agents or cells to damaged sites. Biocompatible hydrogels can act as scaffolds supporting growth of cells to promote tissue or organ repair. In contrast to surgically implanted materials, injectable hydrogels provide a new avenue of minimally invasive delivery that will reduce healing time, reduce scarring and decrease the risk of post-operative infections. Realization of this approach would significantly lower costs for hospitals and result in less pain for patients. These are important translational aspects in bringing regenerative treatments into the clinic and will involve development of biocompatible, GMP accredited biopolymers with application-specific, tunable properties. The project focus will be in tuning the injectability, in situ gelling properties and release rates to guide bioactive components for specific therapeutic applications. Studies designed to control fibril lengths, orientation/alignment, surface modifications and crosslinking kinetics, will be carried out to optimize flow and diffusion properties for specific tissue applications. Selected preclinical assessments will be carried out in 3 different tissue types.
Keywords
Human health;
Biomaterial;
Bioprospecting;
Biopolymer;
Marine Region
76
Not associated to marine areas
0
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