ADMAIORA · Project

Injectable Smart Gel That Repairs Worn-Out Joints Without Surgery

healthTestedTRL 5

Imagine your knee cartilage is wearing away — today, your options are painkillers or eventually a full joint replacement. ADMAIORA built a smart gel loaded with your own stem cells that a doctor can inject right into the joint using a handheld 3D printer during a simple keyhole procedure. The gel contains tiny particles that respond to ultrasound from a wearable brace, keeping the repair active long after the procedure. In animal tests, this approach cut joint degeneration by up to 90% in three months.

By the numbers

40 million

EU citizens affected by osteoarthritis

50.4 billion euros per year

Direct and indirect OA costs for European healthcare

60%

Targeted reduction of degeneration after 4 weeks in animal models

90%

Targeted reduction of degeneration after 3 months in animal models

EUR 5,397,480

EU contribution to the project

8 partners, 6 countries

Consortium size and geographic spread

The business problem

What needed solving

Osteoarthritis affects 40 million EU citizens and costs European healthcare systems approximately 50.4 billion euros per year. Current treatment options are limited to managing pain or, eventually, total joint replacement surgery — an expensive, invasive procedure with long recovery times. There is no widely available treatment that actually repairs damaged cartilage and stops the disease from progressing.

The solution

What was built

The team built a complete treatment system: two types of injectable smart hydrogels (Pluronic-fibrinogen and PEG-fibrinogen), a handheld 3D bioprinter for arthroscopic delivery, a wearable brace with ultrasound probes for ongoing treatment and monitoring, LIPUS stimulation set-ups, and supporting software with IoT connectivity. All components were demonstrated as working prototypes at preclinical level.

Audience

Who needs this

Orthopedic device manufacturers (e.g., companies making joint implants or arthroscopic tools)Biotech companies developing injectable regenerative therapiesWearable medical device companies seeking therapeutic ultrasound applicationsPharmaceutical companies with osteoarthritis treatment portfoliosSports medicine clinics and hospital orthopedic departments

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Orthopedic medical devices

enterprise

Target: Medical device manufacturers producing joint treatment systems

If you are a medical device company dealing with the limits of current osteoarthritis treatments — this project developed a handheld 3D bioprinter embedded in an arthroscopic tool that delivers stem-cell-loaded hydrogels directly into damaged joints. Animal models showed 90% reduction in degeneration after 3 months. The technology targets the gap between painkillers and total joint replacement, a market driven by 40 million affected EU citizens.

Wearable health technology

mid-size

Target: Companies developing therapeutic wearables and remote monitoring devices

If you are a wearable tech company looking for clinically validated therapeutic applications — this project built a custom brace equipped with ultrasound probes that both monitors joint status and stimulates implanted piezoelectric nanomaterials. It includes a dedicated IoT app connecting patient and physician. The brace turns passive recovery into active, remotely managed treatment.

Biomaterials and regenerative medicine

SME

Target: Biotech firms developing injectable hydrogels or tissue engineering products

If you are a biomaterials company seeking next-generation injectable products — this project created biosynthetic hydrogels embedded with carbon-based nanomaterials for mechanical strength and piezoelectric nanoparticles that respond to wireless ultrasound. Two hydrogel prototypes (Pluronic-fibrinogen and PEG-fibrinogen) were demonstrated. These materials address a EUR 50.4 billion per year European healthcare cost burden.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to license or adopt this technology?

The project was funded with EUR 5,397,480 in EU contribution across 8 partners. Licensing terms would need to be negotiated with the coordinator (Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Italy) and the consortium's 5 SME partners who co-developed the technology. Given the preclinical stage (TRL 5 target), costs would likely involve further development investment before commercialization.

Can this scale to industrial production?

The project demonstrated two hydrogel prototypes (Pluronic-fibrinogen and PEG-fibrinogen based) and a preliminary handheld bioprinting system. These are at preclinical level. Scaling to manufacturing would require clinical trials, regulatory approval (MDR/ATMP classification), and production process validation — likely several years of additional development.

What is the IP situation and how can I license it?

With 5 SME partners and 62% industry ratio in the consortium, IP was likely distributed among partners through a consortium agreement. The coordinator is Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna in Italy. Interested parties should contact the coordinator directly to discuss licensing arrangements and IP ownership for specific components.

What regulatory pathway applies to this technology?

This technology combines a medical device (bioprinter, brace), biological materials (stem cells from adipose tissue), and nanomaterials — likely requiring Advanced Therapy Medicinal Product (ATMP) classification under EU regulations. The regulatory pathway is complex and would involve EMA approval. The project reached preclinical (animal model) stage.

How long before this reaches the market?

The project targeted TRL 5 (preclinical validation) from a starting point of TRL 3. Based on available project data, the technology was validated in animal models with 60% degeneration reduction at 4 weeks and 90% at 3 months. Clinical trials, regulatory approval, and manufacturing scale-up would still be needed before market entry.

What specific components were built and tested?

Seven demonstration deliverables were completed: a foot-controlled pneumatic bioprinting system, two hydrogel prototypes, a preliminary brace skeleton, assembled LIPUS ultrasound stimulation set-ups, preliminary software, and a technology integration report. These represent a complete system from material to device to software.

Consortium

Who built it

The ADMAIORA consortium is unusually industry-heavy for a research project: 5 out of 8 partners (62%) are from industry, and all 5 are SMEs. This signals strong commercial intent from the start. The consortium spans 6 countries (Germany, France, Israel, Italy, Poland, Sweden), giving it broad European reach plus Israeli biotech expertise. The coordinator is Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, a top Italian research university known for robotics and bioengineering. With EUR 5,397,480 in EU funding split across 8 partners, each partner received meaningful resources. The high SME participation means multiple companies already have hands-on experience with these technologies and may be ready for licensing or partnership discussions.

SCUOLA SUPERIORE DI STUDI UNIVERSITARI E DI PERFEZIONAMENTO S ANNACoordinator · IT
ISTITUTO ORTOPEDICO RIZZOLIparticipant · IT
PLASMACHEM PRODUKTIONS- UND HANDEL GMBHparticipant · DE
BAR ILAN UNIVERSITYparticipant · IL
REGENTIS BIOMATERIALS LTDparticipant · IL

How to reach the team

Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna (Pisa, Italy) — contact via university's technology transfer office or project website

Order a report on this consortium See SCUOLA SUPERIORE DI STUDI UNIVERSITARI E DI PERFEZIONAMENTO S ANNA profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want an introduction to the ADMAIORA team or a detailed technology brief? SciTransfer can connect you with the right consortium partner for your specific application.

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