
Turning a health risk into an opportunity
A revolutionary approach to implant-associated infections
A revolutionary approach to implant-associated infections
Bioaction is an EU-funded project project that seeks to address implant-associated infections from a completely new perspective.
Rather than simply fighting against pathogenic bacteria, Bioaction aims to turn these bacteria into valuable allies in the promotion of tissue regeneration.
The approach is an alternative to traditional antibiotic therapies, which often exacerbate the growing problem of antimicrobial resistance.
Bioaction, funded by the European Innovation Council’s Pathfinder Open, uses hydrogels to turn bacteria biofilm into a bio-factory for tissue regeneration.
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.
Infection-associated bacteria are hijacked to locally produce healing molecules for the benefit of patients.
Biodegradable hydrogels can be used as injectable materials or as implant coatings for minimally invasive delivery.
Bioaction’s technology can revolutionize classical infection treatment methods, avoiding prolonged antibiotic therapy and reducing failure rates.
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.
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.
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