Microbes as Healing Partners
A revolutionary approach to implant-associated infections
Overview
Bioaction is an EU-funded project project that seeks to address implant-associated infections from a completely new perspective.
Bacteria naturally interact with the body in complex ways. Bioaction aims to reprogram selected bacterial strains so they can locally produce molecules that support repair and recovery — transforming them into active agents of regeneration.
The approach is an alternative to traditional antibiotic therapies, which often exacerbate the growing problem of antimicrobial resistance.
Funding
Bioaction, funded by the European Innovation Council’s Pathfinder Open, uses hydrogels to turn bacteria biofilm into a bio-factory for tissue regeneration.
Our goal
The aim of Bioaction is to improve the quality of life for patients by promoting the remodelling of local physiological processes triggered by the contact with smart, soft nanomaterials.
From challenge to healing ally
Instead of eliminating pathogenic bacteria, Bioaction harnesses and guides naturally occurring microbes to support tissue healing and regeneration.
Patient-friendly
Biodegradable hydrogels can be used as injectable materials or as implant coatings for minimally invasive delivery.
Applications for implant infections
Bioaction’s technology can revolutionize classical infection treatment methods, reducing prolonged antibiotic use and preventing implant failure.
The first foreseen application is the treatment of infections associated with dental and orthopedic implants, i.e., transcutaneous prosthesis implants.
Dental implants and intraosseous transcutaneous implants for limb replacement are particularly susceptible to infections due to their proximity to external surfaces and communities of bacteria usually inhabiting these niches.
Bioaction in numbers
7
partners
5
countries
4
years
3,4 M
euros
Consortium
The Bioaction project represents a bold and innovative endeavour that merges the worlds of synthetic biology, biomaterials, microbiology, liposome and phages technologies.
The project draws on the collective expertise and know-how of a diverse group of partners, each bringing their unique skills and experience to the table.
While this ambitious undertaking carries inherent risks, the partners’ complementary skills and expertise provide a strong foundation for success. From natural and synthetic hydrogels to liposome/phages technology, from DNA circuits to in vitro and in vivo microbiology, and from clinical regenerative biomaterials to innovation management, the participants bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the Bioaction project.
Interested in our project?