NBC-REGEN4

Nanostructured & Biomimetic Ceramic-Polymer Composites for Bone Tissue Regeneration

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'The interdisciplinary proposal NBC-ReGen4 is based on the existing expertise in materials science of the incoming European Fellow (Dr. Piergiorgio Gentile) in combination with the host laboratories knowledge of biocompatibility assessment and medical device development (University of Sheffield-Scientist in charge: Prof. P.V. Hatton). NBC-ReGen4 is a timely project with respect to the scientific and technological advance on the state-of-the-art and with clear translational relevance to industry and ultimately patients. It aims to produce, characterise and evaluate a series of nanostructured composites with significantly improved properties compared to the existing state-of-the-art, specifically including suitable membranes for guided bone regeneration. Conceptually, the adaptation of nanostructured composite membranes for the development of functional devices in different applications represents a major step forward in the increasingly competitive field of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. It is also an ideal time to train a talented materials scientist in new methods related to biological evaluation of a biomaterial, as well as transferable skills that will significantly boost his career prospects and opportunities to contribute to society. In detail, in NBC-ReGen4 the innovative composite membranes will be based on commercially available or in-house fabricated calcium phosphate particles incorporated into a resorbable medical polymer matrix (polyglycolic acid or poly(lactide co-glycolide)) further processed by electrospinning. The obtained composite membrane will consist in bilayered structures that can be modified and characterised for specific applications where bone tissue regeneration is required on only one side. Surface functionalization of the different layers to enhance specific properties (such as biomimetic and anti-inflammatory properties) by low-risk and environmentally-friendly techniques, will be also implemented.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

More and more, medicine depends on materials science for the development of innovative materials used in various applications. Nanotechnology is rapidly entering the field as the major constituent of materials used in tissue engineering.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

Regenerative medicine and dental surgery often rely on functional devices and scaffolds to achieve tissue replenishment. Conceptually, nano-structured materials seem to possess superior properties compared to those that encompass micro- and macrocomposites. Despite this, very few nano-based materials have been placed on the market as medical devices for the repair of human tissues.

To address this, the EU-funded 'Nanostructured & biomimetic ceramic-polymer composites for bone tissue regeneration' (NBC-REGEN4) project set out to produce, characterise and evaluate a series of novel nano-structured composites with significantly improved properties compared to existing materials. These innovative composites were biodegradable and based on combinations of nano-scale bioceramic particles with synthetic polymers.

Compared to existing collagen-based devices and scaffolds, the project-generated materials offered certain advantages such as a reduced risk of disease transmission. In addition, the nature of the composites allowed tailoring of material properties depending on the clinical situation, including the construction of complex layered structures with an optimised bone-facing surface.

When it comes to guided bone regeneration, the available products lack the capacity to stimulate bone regeneration and wound healing, as well as exert antimicrobial activity. The NBC-REGEN4 project used low-risk and environmentally friendly techniques to functionalise the surface of the scaffold to enhance its biomimetic and anti-inflammatory properties. The compact layer that comes into contact with soft tissue was modified to obtain nano-scale layers with incorporated antibiotics. The part of the membrane in contact with bone incorporated specific bone peptides able to successfully enhance new bone formation.

The unique properties of the NBC-REGEN4 membranes surpass the quality and capacity of commercially available materials. Most importantly, they make them ideal for clinical use in bone regeneration approaches and as restorative dental fillings.