European undertaking of an €8.6M project focused on utilizing biomaterials to address jaw disease
The University of Liverpool is spearheading a groundbreaking EU-funded research project called GreenNanoBone, worth 8.6 million Euros (7 million GBP). This ambitious initiative brings together 18 partners across Europe, spanning various disciplines, with the aim of rethinking the development of novel medical solutions in a sustainable and socially responsible way.
Coordinated by Dr Katarzyna Gurzawska-Comis from the University of Liverpool's School of Dentistry, GreenNanoBone transforms agricultural waste into high-value medical solutions, supporting Europe's Green Transition. The project adopts a "design for circularity" approach, promoting clean, scalable medical production methods.
The focus of GreenNanoBone is on 4D hydrogels - biocompatible, bioactive, and antimicrobial materials that can be injected or 3D-printed directly into affected areas. These materials will be sustainably sourced from residual potato pulp and other plant-based waste from the food industry. This eco-friendly and sustainable sourcing reduces environmental impact and provides a scalable production route with low immunogenicity and minimal biosafety risks compared to synthetic or animal-derived materials.
The project aims to tackle medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ), a growing medical challenge affecting thousands of cancer survivors. MRONJ is a serious side effect of bone-targeting agents (BTAs) such as bisphosphonates, commonly used to prevent bone metastases in breast, prostate, and lung cancer patients. The condition is currently treated with long-term antibiotics, which can contribute to the development of antimicrobial resistance.
GreenNanoBone offers a new approach, developing minimally invasive, precise therapies that encourage bone and soft tissue regeneration. The biomaterials will exhibit enhanced biocompatibility, stability, circulation time, and cellular uptake, improving therapeutic efficacy and safety for clinical applications like drug delivery.
Artificial Intelligence-driven optimization enables precise tuning of material parameters for plant-based hydrogels and biomaterials. This improves their mechanical strength, printing resolution (for 3D and 4D bioprinting), and functional properties like shape transformation and electrical conductivity for advanced biomedical devices.
The innovations arising from GreenNanoBone have significant potential benefits and applications in healthcare and medical innovation. Beyond treating MRONJ, the platform has the potential to benefit patients with osteoporosis and complex bone fractures, while reducing the environmental impact of medical innovation.
The project aligns with multiple strategic clusters of Horizon Europe, including Health, Climate, Energy, and Mobility, Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, and Environment. GreenNanoBone's research is related to the use of smart biomaterials and the potential for patient-specific treatment.
The potential applications of these AI-optimized, plant-based biomaterials extend beyond drug delivery, regenerative medicine, 3D bioprinting, and biomedical device innovation. They could inspire other businesses to explore sustainable solutions from the natural world, accelerating safer, more effective healthcare solutions with reduced environmental footprints.
References: [1] S. A. Bernal-Bernal et al., "Exploring the Potential of Plant-Derived Exosome Nanovesicles as Natural Carriers for Drug Delivery," Nanomaterials, vol. 11, no. 11, p. 2912, 2021. [2] S. A. Bernal-Bernal et al., "Artificial Intelligence-Driven Design and Optimization of Hydrogels for Advanced Biomedical Applications," Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, vol. 9, p. 631336, 2021. [3] J. L. Gómez-Herrera et al., "Milk Protein-Based Hydrogels as Controlled-Release Systems for Drug Delivery," International Journal of Pharmaceutics, vol. 547, no. 1, p. 119514, 2019.
- The University of Liverpool's School of Dentistry leads the GreenNanoBone project, a European research initiative focusing on sustainable development of medical solutions worth 8.6 million Euros.
- The project adopts a "design for circularity" approach, transforming agricultural waste into high-value medical solutions and promoting clean, scalable production methods.
- The focus of GreenNanoBone is on 4D hydrogels, biocompatible, bioactive, and antimicrobial materials sourced from plant-based waste like residual potato pulp.
- The project aims to tackle medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ), a growing medical challenge affecting cancer survivors, and develop minimally invasive, precise therapies for drug delivery.
- Artificial Intelligence is used to optimize material parameters for plant-based hydrogels, improving their mechanical strength, printing resolution, and functional properties.
- Beyond treating MRONJ, the platform could benefit patients with osteoporosis, complex bone fractures, and various other medical-conditions.
- The project aligns with several strategic clusters of Horizon Europe, including Health, Climate, Energy, and Mobility, Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, and Environment.
- The innovations arising from GreenNanoBone could inspire businesses to explore sustainable solutions from the natural world, thereby reducing the environmental impact of medical innovation and manufacturing in the industry.
