PRINT-AID · Multidisciplinary European training network for development of personalized anti-infective medical devices combining printing technologies and antimicrobial functionality

Multidisciplinary European training network for development of personalized anti-infective medical devices combining printing technologies and antimicrobial functionality

The Print-Aid project successfully trained nine doctoral students in a multidisciplinary environment that involved 10 research institutions in Europe and 2 in the US with an aim to shorten the path from basic research to clinical applications in the field of medical devices and bio-fabrication. The project created a network of young professionals, with a profound, yet wide understanding of the field of infectious diseases associated with medical devices, and the tools/knowledge needed to concretize clinical developments. These included microbiological models, formulation science, data management as well as the industrial and regulatory outlook. The project also offered stakeholders and policymakers a strong proof-of-concept effort of innovative alternatives to reduce the burden (financial costs and mortality/morbidity) associated with hospital-acquired infections. According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control - ECDC, more than 4 million EU patients acquire nosocomial infections every year, resulting in 37,000 deaths and costing about EUR 7 billion annually. At least half of all these infections is related to the use of medical devices, including catheters and medical implants, from which ca. 80% associate with microbial biofilms. To date, all licensed antibiotics have been developed against planktonic bacteria, and their efficacy against biofilms has usually not been determined. The Print-Aid project had following three specific aims: 1) To educate doctoral students in the development of next-generation anti-infective medical devices by (i) applying state-of-the-art fabrication and drug delivery technologies (3D-printing) and to (ii) explore if they are beneficial (from both the fabrication and the functional perspectives) in protecting against biofilm-related infections. 2) To learn how to set up a collection of anti-biofilm compounds and to develop novel anti-biofilm formulations. 3) To provide the doctoral students with an insight in building a generic research toolbox for developing novel anti-biofilm agents, including in vitro/vivo models for evaluating the efficacy of anti-biofilm compounds, tools for data integration and standardization. The close research collaboration, combined with a tailored training program with on-line courses, workshops, summer schools and outreach activities, provided a framework for personalized medicine with the main focus on improving antimicrobial formulations to enhance the functionality of the medical device(s) using printing technologies.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union