NIPROGEN

Nature inspires innovative processes for the development of implants for regenerative medicine

Principal Investigators: Anna Tampieri, Simone Sprio
Involved personnel: Andrea Ruffini

Administrative management/reporting: Laura Mengozzi

Starting date: 01/04/2016
Duration: 24 months
Total funding: 999,767.50 €
Call: POR-FESR 2014-2020: PG/2015/731448
Coordinator: Anna Tampieri (CNR-ISTEC)
Consortium: CNR-NANO-S3, IOR-RIT, Università di Ferrara-BICEGEMO, Romagna-Tech, Finceramica Faenza, Greenbone Ortho
Official website: www.niprogen.it

NIPROGEN will develop innovative transformation processes inspired by nature to obtain bioactive bone implants with high chemical and morphological affinity with natural bone, through rapid osseointegration and vascularization. The new implants described are therefore suitable for the treatment of load-bearing bone defects in various anatomical sites such as maxillofacial, cranial and long bone regions, and have adequate mechanical properties to support physiological loads at the specific implant site. In particular, NIPROGEN will adopt new processes of “biomorphic transformation”, a paradigmatic change in the ceramic process thanks to which 3D ceramic with chemical composition and complex structure can be obtained. In particular, the natural structures will be transformed into biomimetic hydroxyapatite retaining the 3D hierarchical organization of the starting structure, thus permitting a more effective activation of the biochemical processes related to the formation of new bone. For the regeneration of complex shaped bone regions such as orbital, parietal or chin regions, the implants will be obtained through the 3D printing of highly bioactive injectable paste, obtained through innovative cold self-setting processes, based on models CAD / CAM of specific profiles of the face and skull. The new scaffolds will be tested using: i) analysis of molecular genetic mechanisms induced by the implant and activating osteoblastic differentiation, ii) nanomechanical characterization of the cell-biomaterial interaction and iii) implantation on a large animal model, for a preliminary study of the methodology of implant and the most appropriate fixation techniques, and for an evaluation of regenerative capacity.

PATENTS

• WO2017021894 (A1). Large 3D porous scaffolds made of active hydroxyapatite obtained by biomorphic transformation of natural structures and process for obtaining them
  Inventors: Tampieri A, Sprio S, Ruffini A
  Priority date: Registration date: 06/08/2015 Registration date: 03/08/2016 Serial: PCT/IB2016/054665