Mat2Rep - Multifunctional biomaterials for the self-healing of tissues and organs
The IRET Foundation is leader of the Mat2Rep project which began on the 5th of July 2019.
Reparative medicine is a pioneering area designed to stimulate the self-healing of tissues and organs starting from stem cells and endogenous precursors, using a combination of biomaterials, drugs and physical energies. Researchers are looking to this field to resolve unmet medical needs, particularly those related to tissues with limited abilities for spontaneous self-repair, such as those of the central nervous system (CNS) and tissues whose usually robust repair abilities fail under certain pathological conditions. Examples include traumatic and vascular CNS lesions, for which there are no treatments, and chronic skin ulcers (such as pressure sores), which lack consistent treatment guidelines . Mat2Rep is developing treatments for tissue repair, combining drugs and biomaterials designed to have specific functions and properties. The project will see the use of two manufacturing technologies: electrospinning, a process used to create three-dimensional nanofibrous supports (scaffolds) which mimic the fibrous protein component of the extracellular matrix, and nanoparticles (NPs). Overall, Mat2Rep is proposing new composite materials, intelligent and personalized, integrating scientific knowhow and cutting-edge technologies.
Aims
Mat2Rep is conducting research in the fields of nanotechnology, advanced materials and micro and nanoelectronics, developing and testing “self-repair” tools and treatments in the form of medical and electromedical devices, biomaterials, tissue derivatives, drugs and combination products. Mat2Rep aims to develop four reparative medicine products for the recruitment of stem cells and endogenous precursors, and for the control of inflammation and tissue hypoxia. The partnership brings together laboratories from the High Technology Network (IRET Foundation, CIRI-SDV University of Bologna, ISTEC-CNR, MISTER s.c.r.l) and leading companies in their respective sectors (Chiesi Farmaceutici, Fin-ceramica, Igea, Cyanagen, Aczon, TMR), offering a solid guarantee of achieving the project goals. By the end of the project, the goal is to have validated four new products for clinical efficacy - two for the central nervous system and two for the skin. The latter two products will also be indicated for veterinary use. Mat2Rep trains researchers able to work in a multidisciplinary team which includes experts from the fields of chemistry, materials manufacture, pharmacological formulation, in vitro and in vivo preclinical testing, and from the regulatory system for drug and medical device marketing.
The Mat2Rep project is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (POR FESR 2014-2020) of the Region of Emilia-Romagna, Axis 1, Action 1.2.2, to the amount of € 799,910.50
