MEDFIL

Multifunctional filters with high heat and humidity exchange capabilities (HMEf) and early detection of respiratory infections

Principal Investigator: Monica Sandri
Involved Personnel: Elisabetta Campodoni, Chiara Artusi

Starting date: 04/07/2019
Duration: 24 month
Total funding: 1.117.125 €
Call: POR-FESR 2014-2020, Asse 1, Azione 1.2.2, Ambito di specializzazione S3 – Industrie Della Salute E Del Benessere, Obiettivo strategico – Innovazione tecnologica al servizio della deospedalizzazione
Project Coordinator: CNR-ISTEC (Faenza-RA)
Consortium: MISTER (Bologna), CFR (Ferrara), Romagna Tech (Faenza-RA)

Involved companies: Medica SpA (Medolla-MO), Pollution Srl (Budrio-BO), Finceramica SpA (Faenza-RA)
Consultants: CNR-ISOF (Bologna), CNR-ISAC (Bologna), Montecatone Rehabilitation Institute SpA (MRI) (Imola-BO)

Official website: https://www.medfil.it/

The MEDFil Project aims to design innovative Heat and Moisture Exchange Diagnostic Filter (HMEDf) devices aimed at protecting the airways in patients subject to forced ventilation because able to administer wet and hot technical gas.
The project will implement HME devices through functionalisation with a diagnostic component (D), represented by bacterium-specific liposomal vesicles, which allows early detection of microbial agents, cause of pulmonary infections.

In addition, integration with active modules (adsorbents/micro-filtering) based on polymer membranes with high specific surface and filtration capacity, will enable the development of innovative multistage systems, based on biocompatible and eco-friendly materials developed and already patented within the consortium.

Integrating the engineering skills and the equipment provided by partners, consultants and companies an innovative filter holder will be designed and developed to opportunely integrate the various components. This will allow to address the validating step of the devices by testing them in a relevant clinical setting, by the advice and equipment available at the Montecatone Rehabilitation Institute. Results will be disseminated (web, workshops, technical events, virtual demonstration laboratory, etc.) aimed at increasing the competitiveness and sustainability of the regional health industry supply chain.

Pubblications and patents

• 102017000022625: Filtro per lo scambio di calore ed umidità per applicazione in campo medicale e procedimento per la sua produzione. Inventors: Sandri Monica, Sprio Simone, Tampieri Anna
  International Application No.: PCT/IB2018/051234
• Vazquez B., Nicosia A., Belosi F., Santachiara G., Monticelli P., Sandri M., Savini E., Tampieri A. Natural polymers as Heat and Moisture Exchange devices for medical applications. Advances in Science and Technology Vol. 96 (2014) 39-44.