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Description
Project demand is related to injuries of the human nervous system which affect more than 1 billion people worldwide, with 6.8 million deaths each year. Especially peripheral nerve damage is a common clinical complication of traumatic injury occurring after the accident, surgical side effects. The aim of the interdisciplinary GrooveNeuroTube project is to produce composite tubes by 3D printing for increased regeneration of peripheral nerves after injuries. In order to produce scaffolds for tissue engineering, 3D printing technology is one of the most promising and efficient methods. However, the generation of biocompatible,stable and low-cost scaffold material for tissue regeneration remains a significant challenge. In the project, naturally derived polymers will be used because of their unique biological properties with addition of synthetic polymers which can significantly improve the stability and mechanical properties of scaffolds, making it promising for producing tissue engineering constructs. The addition of growth factors and antibacterial agents is another advantage for preventing bacterial infection, direct cell adhesion and axonal outgrowth. The results of the GrooveNeuroTube project are targeted to a broad range of scientific communities mainly in the field of tissue engineering, biomaterials and regenerative medicine. Long-term outcomes will significantly contribute to medicine and science. Finally, the SGS project which is intended to lead by a female, will certainly contribute to improving PI’s leadership skills and professional achievement through publications which will be beneficial for habilitation application, as originator of the project. The SGS will enhance research independence including grant application and project management. The set of competences which PI develops during the grant will enhance future career prospects and will have a clear impact on medium and long term aspects of PI research career.
Summary of project results
A key issue was the development of peripheral nerve regeneration (PNR) conduits to treat nerve continuity after road traffic accidents. PN can regenerate, but when the gap between two nerve stumps is too large, special conduits need to be inserted. There are no personalised conduits on the market to regenerate large gaps between nerves. The project aimed to develop a new nerve conduit with specific surface topography/active factors to accelerate nerve regeneration.
The project implemented several key activities, including the fabrication of 3D-printed scaffolds with specific groove architecture, development of bioactive hydrogels containing active agents. These activities led to the successful creation of an ex vivo model for studying neural migration and the impact of PEMF on cell behavior. Although in vivo studies were not completed due to unforeseen administrative delays, the ex vivo tests confirmed the effectiveness of the designed neurotubes and PEMF in fostering neural migration and outgrowth. These activities and products are important as advance the understanding and potential treatment methods for PNR, leveraging 3D printing technology for personalized medical applications.
The main results of the project include the development of novel composite materials with certain biolological impact and the creation of 3D bioprintable ex vivo models to imitate neural regeneration. Additionally, the implementation of PEMF as part of the long-term ex vivo culture was an added element of WP4 that demonstrated positive outcomes. Although the product did not reach commercialization during the project due to the lack of animal studies, the importance of the project for the beneficiaries is reflected in short and long-term impacts: high-impact scientific publications, dissemination activities and presentations that spread knowledge about the project and funding. Moreover, the creation of the ex vivo model itself is element with implementation potential, and further research on this will be conducted by the PI.