HYANJI SCAFFOLD · Hyaluronan-based injectable material for tissue engineering (HYANJI SCAFFOLD)

Hyaluronan-based injectable material for tissue engineering (HYANJI SCAFFOLD)

HYANJI SCAFFOLD is a China-Europe exchange-based activity financially supported by the European Commission's Framework 7 Programme to enable development of new tissue engineering techniques. It aims at technology transfer of advanced methods for the biosynthesis of polyalkaonates and for targeted drug delivery. The exchange programme comprises two European partners (Keele and Pisa Universities) and two Chinese partners (Tsinghua and Sichuan Universities) which are international centres of excellence in their fields of research. The exchange comprises 208 person-months over 4 years to achieve a long-lasting scientific collaboration between the EU and China. As a result of this project, each partner will have adapted new knowledge, skills and expertise resulting in new innovations in treatment of bone and cartilage defects to transfer to European and Chinese industry. The planned scientific activities that form the HYANJI-SCAFFOLD exchange include: Microbial synthesis of polyhydroxyalkanaotes; Metabolic manipulation to allow PHA production with various molecular weights for controlled degradation and release; Production of matrices including nanoprocessing and; Cell engineering. The work is organized in four research Workpackages over four years. The four research Workpackages are: WP1 Biosynthesis of macromolecules (lead partner: Tsinghua) WP2 Targeted and controlled drug delivery (lead partner: Sichuan) WP3 Preparation of module matrix for tissue engineering (lead partner: Pisa) WP4 Tissue engineering (lead partner: Keele) Strategic objectives: The project aims to foster European-Chinese collaboration in this scientific niche and advance this ahead of Japan and the USA. It will achieve this through joint multidisciplinary projects. Most importantly, the project will lay the foundation for long-term joint work, so that partners will benefit from high standard training and exposure and further their advances through integration and innovation at the interface of science disciplines. Transfer of Knowledge Objectives: Mobility: from one partner to another (total 208 person-months). Joint work: Workpackages are interfaced by the joint work of the exchanging staff. Training: both through short workshops and hands-on in defined WPs. Dissemination: Participation in conferences and topic-oriented workshops, contribution to training Schools relevant to Tissues Engineering and Regenerative Medicine. Workshops: Two major workshops; one in Europe and one in China, as well as minor ones in each partner lab. Research Objectives: Development of biomimetic multifunctional macromolecule-based biomaterial for tissue regeneration. For successful tissue regeneration, there should be an appropriate matrix and cells. For the matrix to be biomimetic it should have several functions. Proposed material in the this project is of natural origin, found during tissue formation and healing, processible, can act as drug storage and delivery system, and can be formed into biomimetic nanofibre-based structure that can be delivered to the site of treatment (e.g. joints) using minimal access delivery or even injection.

Текст от CORDIS, на английски · Данни: CORDIS, © Европейски съюз