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Description
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The development of firms and corporations working in the biomedical field are bound to their ability to create new devices which can improve the quality of life for hospital patients. This is done simply reducing the incidence of degenerative diseases, which produces benefits on patient's health and reducing hospitalization costs.
The present project aims to develop new devices for the biomedical field and it will split in two main branches:
(1) development of devices based on polymers “phthalate and/or PVC-free”;
(2) development of devices with a programmed function.
In the first part of the project, the design of the following articles will be pursued:
--a multi-purpose filter for haemodialysis filtration, which will be made using filtering materials which are functionalized by means of “biomimic” chemical groups, which are able to catch pathogens.
--a device able to drain and to monitor biological liquids. The device will be made of materials possessing antibacterial function and will employ a closed-circuit system, allowing for a real-time control of some important clinical parameters (flow, acidity, traces of f blood, etc.).
Up to now, the material used for the production of medical devices, especially disposable ones, is still PVC. Recent laws discourage the use of such material due to the presence of high amounts (about 40-50%) of plasticizers based on phthalate such as DOP, DEHP, and DINP in its formulation. In fact, phthalates tend to be released in water, in blood, in saliva and being fat-soluble, their release is facilitated in solutions that contain lipids. As a consequence, the use of PVC is dangerous to human health. Moreover, disposal of PVC-based materials from this sector is carried out entirely through the incineration process in which this material produces large quantities of dioxins. As a result, many nations have already banned the use of PVC in medical device manufacturing.
All these circumstances lead the industry to develop medical devices of two types, namely devices that use PVC-based materials, but without phthalates, or, even better, devices that use PVC-free materials. The substitution of PVC with new polymers also involves re-designing all the lines and their preparation processes.
The second objective of this project is focused on developing drug delivery devices able to control the drug release, thus decreasing the number of daily doses, and avoid overdosing or underdosing phenomena, minimizing unwanted side effects. Furthermore, the development of new technologies to provide a prolonged release over time (months or years) is still a challenge in the treatment of chronic diseases such as those affecting the eye area back of the eye.
Within this objective, slow-release systems will be developed, designed for short time periods (days or weeks) using hydrogels based on synthetic polymers, or naturally occurring polysaccharides otherwise using biodegradable polymers of microbial origin. We will study the possibility of realizing new devices with long release times for the ophthalmic industry, creating intravitreal inserts based on not biodegradable polymer systems containing an anti-inflammatory that will be specially developed under this project.
We will also develop a trans-dermal device for drug delivery (Genistein, etc.).
Another issue concerns the development of innovative polymer-based systems possessing antimicrobial activity. Such systems will be prepared by adding in the polymer matrix silver as, nano particles or nano clusters, antimicrobials of natural origin, and developing inherently antimicrobial polymers.
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Distribution
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Advancement of distribution in %
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Total amount distributed
3,565,201.57 euro
NOP R&C distributed amount
3,370,642.57 euro
PAC distributed amount
0.00 euro
Amount distributed with other funds
194,559.00 euro
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