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project info
Start date: 3 July 2017
End date: 30 September 2021
funding
Fund: European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)
Total budget: 3 498 161,77 €
EU contribution: 2 827 214,34 € (80,82%)
programme
Programming period: 2014-2021
Managing authority: Nemzetgazdasági Minisztérium Gazdaságfejlesztési Programokért Felelős Helyettes Államtitkárság

DEVELOPMENT OF GEL BASED BIOMATRIXS AND TECHNOLOGIES FOR THEIR PRODUCTION

A) Medical practice requires replacement of the body’s tissues and organs in the case of many diseases. Due to the low number of potential donors, transplant options are not able to meet the needs. At present, bone tissue and corneal diseases and abnormal conditions require the largest amount of tissue replacement. The aim of the project is to research and develop the production of new material composition and new structures for bone and corneal tissue replacement, including the development of technologies suitable for industrial scale production. The aim of the bone tissue research is not only to supplement the missing parts with artificial substances, but also to develop original Hungarian-developed bioactive bone replacement materials that are able to regenerate the missing bone mass, are suitable for use and can be used on a wide scale, while they break down themselves and are transformed into natural bone. In research, one of the world’s latest technical findings, aerogels, is used as a bioactive matrix. The aim of the research of transparent biomatrix is to create a biocompatible family of bio-compatible materials with the right biophysical and optical properties of the transparent media of the eye — corneal, lens, glass body — to provide the right material transport, which retains its properties on a permanent basis even after its implantation into the body. The amino acids used in the research are natural substances that can be found in the body, their use for the formation of gels suitable for tissue replacement is a new direction in research. As a result of the project, materials that can be used for the preparation of implants in ophthalmology are formed, from which product concepts to replace cornea, eye lens and vitreous are developed in the form of primary prototypes. The project is implemented through the syndicated cooperation of the University of Debrecen and Premed Pharma Kft. The results of preliminary research at the university on aerogels and the idea of Premed Pharma Kft for the development of transparent biomatrix resulted in joint thinking, information exchange and a decision for joint development. Research uses more identical experimental and testing infrastructures, so that mutual access to tools and exchange of experience in itself will make research more efficient and faster. Cooperation with the enterprise leads to the emergence of new resources for the university. As a result of the syndicated cooperation, the company partner can effectively and efficiently manage the value generated on the market with the help of its market knowledge and business relationship system. Hip and knee prosthesis surgery is an increasing number of people worldwide, currently estimated at around 3-5 million people every year. While the number of primary hip replacement implants will increase by around 30 % by 2030, according to currently agreed forecasts, the number of knee replacement implants could even quadruple during this time. For cases of replacement of prostheses, called revisions in the profession, the number of hip prostheses is expected to increase more dynamicly compared to the primary one, and in the case of knee replacements, the increase is as striking as in primary cases and could reach three times in 2030 compared to the current situation. This means that 12-20 million people worldwide will receive hip or knee prostheses by 2030. Between 10 % and 20 % of these cases require the use of bone replacements. The global market is estimated at EUR 200 million per year for large joints with 20 million implants and 10 % bone replacement material used. Currently, only 1 % of the population with blindness in the cornea, estimated at 10 million globally, is undergoing surgery due to donor shortages. Doubling it with an implant is worth EUR 30 million. For artificial lenses, a market value of EUR 20 million can be estimated at 1 % of the current use of artificial lenses. The annual demand for vitreous replacement is estimated at 1 million globally. This is estimated at EUR 100 million. R & D: The research and development activities of the two consortium members aim, on the one hand, to acquire new knowledge (basic research at the University of Debrecen) and to develop the industrial manufacturing technology of the materials to be developed, including prototype products (industrial research, experimental development). Reg. ber.: Premed Pharma Ltd. carries out real estate development at its site in Szeged, creating a new research and development centre where R & D & I activities take place. The research centre will have laboratories (chemical, biological) and an operating room suitable for animal testing, as well as offices for research. In addition to real estate development, the Company also acquires the necessary instruments and equipment for the research. DE plans to purchase only one device within the project, which is the pilot on which the research will be carried out

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