BIOACTION has become part of the European Innovation Council’s (EIC) Engineered Living Materials (ELMs) Portfolio. This exciting community focuses on developing custom-made living materials that use the power of nature to solve production challenges.
The EIC ELMs Portfolio brings together innovative projects like Bio-HhOST, BioRobot-MiniHeart, ISOS, LoopOfFun, NextSkins, PRISM-LT, REMEDY, and SUMO. Together, these projects aim to place Europe at the forefront of this emerging field by sharing knowledge, building partnerships, and tackling regulatory, ethical, and social issues related to these new technologies.
One of the first portfolio activities we joined was a workshop with the European Medicines Agency (EMA) focused on regulating these new materials.
Our project takes a fresh approach to implant technology by turning bacterial biofilms, often responsible for implant infections and failures, into a beneficial resource. We use functionalized bio-hydrogels that contain engineered liposomes and phages to reprogram bacteria. This allows the bacteria to produce specific proteins that help with tissue regeneration. By changing harmful biofilms into useful extracellular matrices, we are opening new doors for tissue repair.
Being part of the ELMs Portfolio means we will work alongside other projects to advance the science and technology of engineered living materials. This collaboration will help increase the visibility of ELMs worldwide, engage with regulatory bodies, consider ethical and social implications, and move towards standardization in this field.