Report

Teaser, summary, work performed and final results

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - MedTrain (Career Development and Mobility Fellowships in Medical Device Research and Development: A CÚRAM Industry-Academia Training Initiative.)

Teaser

Chronic disease is defined as long term conditions which become more common with age and can be medically treated but not cured. These conditions include diabetes, cardiovascular, neurodegenerative, and musculoskeletal diseases In accordance with the new WHO report “cancer...

Summary

Chronic disease is defined as long term conditions which become more common with age and can be medically treated but not cured. These conditions include diabetes, cardiovascular, neurodegenerative, and musculoskeletal diseases In accordance with the new WHO report “cancer, diabetes, lung and heart diseases kill 41 million people annually, accounting for 71% of all deaths globally, 15 million of which occur between the ages of 30 and 70 years”. Those diseases that cause the major morbidity and mortality require innovative medical devices that are less invasive, more effective and also can improve the cost-related healthcare.
The MedTrain programme focuses on a comprehensive understanding of medical device research and development. The programme aims to enhance the creative, entrepreneurial, and innovative potential of researchers that are research active in areas where unmet clinical needs are identified. Projects carried out in the MedTrain programme including biomaterials, biomedical engineering, drug delivery, electronic engineering, glycosciences, marine biodiscovery, neural engineering, and translational research. The main goal of the programme is to develop novel technology and commercialise technologies already existing. The primary output arising from MedTrain fellows will be the generation of spin-outs. Being part of the CÚRAM Research Centre, the goal of MedTrain is to radically improve quality of life for patients with chronic diseases

The main scientific objectives of the research programme are to:
• MT-1 Use graphene oxide coating to create small size active medical implants such as cochlear implant
• MT-9 Design a non-invasive and effective drug delivery system able to deliver nucleic acid into the central nervous system based on modified cyclodextrin formulations
• MT-8 Design a scalable nanoparticle-based approach to glioblastoma treatment
• MT-4 Develop new therapeutic technology to improve skin wound healing
• MT-7 Improve on current implantable recording systems and stimulating neuroelectrode systems
• MT-2 Generate extracellular matrix-rich self-assembled tissue-like constructs to develop an advanced therapy medical product for tendon-enthesis regeneration
• MT-3 Synthesis of galactin ligands for medical device application and fibrosis
• MT-5 Design functionalisation of marine diatoms for drug delivery
• MT-11 Production and development of a biodegradable bioadhesive for clinical application
• MT-10 Develop a device to optimise mesenchymal stromal cell enhancement of T-reg expansion for for autoimmune disease and transplantation
• MT-6 Develop a drug delivery device for the treatment of Crohn’s disease perianal fistula

The MedTrain programme will provide Experienced Researchers with a research and transferable skills training experience of highest international standards that will help them to advance their scientific careers within a chosen sector, across academia, industry or public sector, in the broad area of Medical Device Research and Development. The MedTrain programme will apply science to drive the translation of clinician- and industry-informed research into next-generation medical devices and implants. The prevalence of chronic disease and their impacts on health will ensure that the MedTrain programme will be of interest to the general public. Meaningful interaction of all fellows’ with the general public to promote the success and impact of the research outputs of the MedTrain programme will increase public awareness about current unmet clinical needs in noncommunicable diseases

Work performed

(MT-1) Bioactive coatings made of graphene oxide and amorphous carbon (aC)/diamond like carbon (DLC) hybrid that is functionalized with O2 and N2 have been successfully used for inducing favourable cellular secretion of growth factors; important for osteo-integration of medical implants.
(MT-8 and MT-9) Complexation of siRNA into modified cyclodextrins (CD) displaying monodisperse particle size was successfully completed. Promising CD-siRNA complexes have been obtained. Preliminary functionalization with targeted ligands has shown monodispersed particle size and a more neutral surface charge. Also, the formulation of complementary particle formulations, including formulations targeted to a specific receptor (folate) overexpressed on glioblastoma cells has been performed.
(MT-4) This project proposes the development of two strategies to incorporate platelet-rich plasma (PRP) into collagen-glycosaminoglycan (CG) scaffolds and investigate their potential to improve the properties of scaffold. It has been shown that PRP-derived fibrin was efficiently and homogenously incorporated into CG scaffolds to produce PCG scaffolds. CG scaffolds with pockets for the production of a-PCG scaffolds were efficiently produced with PLA 3D-printed moulds, and presented similar porous architecture to regular CG scaffolds made in metal moulds.
(MT-7) Preliminary studies with electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance confirmed its efficacy in sensing changes of mass resulted from the deposition of nano-amounts of electroactive materials. Fractal neuromorphic structures were determined as the most favourable surface topographies for nanopatterning.
(MT-2) To date, it has been shown that high-purity type II collagen can be extracted from different porcine cartilage tissues (female and male). Also, type II collagen sponges obtained from male as well as female articular, tracheal and auricular cartilage show comparable biomechanical and biophysical properties.
(MT-3) Synthesis of galectin ligands such as gelactin-3 that can be orally bioavailable appears to be innovation for medical device application. The synthesis of TD139 which is an inhaled inhibitor of Gal-3 has been completed.
(MT-5) Another approach in drug delivery is to use marine diatoms that are characterised by high porosity and biocompatibility. Single chain (ScFv) antibody fragments against prostate cancer- (PSMA) and arthritis-specific targets (TNFα) have been selected for recombinant expression and attachment to diatoms.
(MT-6) The targeted drug delivery system to treat Crohn’s diseas is urgent. Design of the device and polymeric material has been successfully identified. Synthesis and characterization of the copolymers has been completed. Fabrication of various models of the device based on the finalized design will be evaluated with drug loading and release profile.

Final results

The MedTrain programme, in line with the European Charter and Code, aims to deliver graduates that are immediately employable across sectors. The principal objective of the MedTrain programme is to develop Experienced Researchers with a full complement of the necessary research and transferable skills to produce excellent scientific results benefiting human health and contributing to innovation, economic growth, and European competitiveness. Half of the 31 postdoctoral scientists recruited into the MedTrain programmes will have spin-out company formation as one of their key outputs leading to job creation in Ireland. The novel technologies developed under MedTrain programme will offer a unique opportunity for drug discovery and medical devices companies wishing to gain entry in to therapeutic area to licence the technology or collaborate on clinical trials.

Website & more info

More info: http://www.medtrain.eu.