Imagine a smart bandage for the heart that doesn't just cover a wound but actively heals it. This patch uses special materials that turn ultrasound waves from outside the body into electrical signals to release medicine exactly when and where it's needed. It helps stop the heart from scarring and encourages healthy muscle growth after a heart attack.
Heart attacks cause permanent loss of muscle and excessive fibrosis, leading to heart failure. Current treatments cannot stop this adverse remodelling or regenerate the lost tissue.
A biocompatible piezoelectric patch with aligned nanofibers and a system of smart carriers triggered by ultrasound. A 3D bioprinted tubular heart chamber for functional testing was also developed.
If you are a cardiac implant manufacturer dealing with the lack of treatments for post-MI fibrosis — this project developed a piezoelectric patch that delivers anti-inflammatory and proliferative factors on demand. This allows for a controlled, sequential release of therapeutics triggered by external ultrasound.
If you are a drug delivery specialist dealing with poor penetration of therapeutics into heart tissue — this project developed smart carriers and a fibrous patch that use ultrasound stimulation to enhance drug penetration. This creates a more effective regenerative microenvironment for the heart.
If you are a 3D bioprinting firm dealing with the lack of functional heart models for testing — this project developed a tissue engineered tubular heart chamber capable of pumping fluid. This provides a new in vitro model for structural and functional testing of cardiac therapies.
Based on available project data, there is no specific information regarding the production cost or market price of the patch.
The project uses electrospinning technology and a process that avoids toxic solvents, which are key factors for scaling, though specific industrial volume data is not provided.
Based on available project data, the project is preparing the ground for exploitation through in vitro and in vivo characterization, but specific patent or licensing terms are not listed.
The release is triggered by external ultrasonic (US) stimulation from outside the body, allowing for a temporal sequence of therapeutic delivery.
The project period runs from 2023-01-01 to 2026-12-31, focusing on development, validation, and preparation for exploitation.
The consortium is heavily geared toward commercialization with a 54% industry ratio, comprising 7 industry partners (including 5 SMEs) and 5 universities. This balance suggests a strong focus on translating the research into a viable medical product, supported by a diverse geographic spread across 6 countries.
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