Abstract

The scientific activities forming the HYANJI-SCAFFOLD exchange include:

1. Microbial synthesis of hyaluronic acid and polyhydroxyalkanaotes;
2. Metabolic manipulation to allow HA and PHA production with various molecular weights for controlled degradation and release;
3. Production of matrices including nanoprocessing and;
4. Cell engineering.

This is realized through staff exchange of 208 person-months working together to combine expertise and skills towards building novel cell-material constructs for tissue engineering. The work has been organized in four research Workpackages over four years.

Strategic objectives

The project aims to foster European-Chinese collaboration in this scientific niche and advance this ahead of Japan and the USA. It will achieve this through work together on multidisciplinary projects. Most importantly, the project lays foundation for long-term joint work, so that partners will benefit from high standard training and exposure and further their advances through integration and innovation at the interface of science disciplines.

Transfer of Knowledge Objectives

Mobility: from one partner to another (total 208 person-months).
Joint work: Workpackages are interfaced by the joint work of the exchanging staff.
Training: both through short workshops and hands-on in defined WPs.
Dissemination: Participation in conferences and topic-oriented workshops, contribution to training Schools relevant to Tissues Engineering and Regenerative Medicine.
Workshops: Two major workshops planned, one in Europe and one in China, as well as minor ones in each partner lab.

Research Objectives 

1. Development of biomimetic multifunctional hyaluronan-based nano-biomaterial for tissue regeneration. For successful tissue regeneration, there should be appropriate matrix and cells. For the matrix to be biomimetic it should have several functions. Proposed material in the this project is of natural origin, found during tissue formation and healing, processible, can act as drug storage and delivery system, and can be formed into biomimetic nanofibre-based structure that can be delivered to the site of treatment (e.g. joints) using minimal access delivery or even injection.
2. Combining approaches and expertise. In order to perform this multidisciplinary project several teams are needed. Hence, the four different institutions, complementary to each other: 1) Tsinghua has strength in biosynthesis and novel macromolecular materials. Pisa is well equipped in macromolecules science will deal with material preparation. Sichuan has the strongest team in pharmaceutics in China. They will develop drug releasing matrix. Keele with the international leading tissue engineering lab will look after biocompatibility and tissue engineering. The two European partners are also partners in the EU network of excellence on tissue engineering (EU Project NMP3-CT-2004-500283).
3. Development of new innovations in nano-biomaterials. With this exchange programme, it is foreseen that new nano- and multifunctional materials and innovations will be one of the important outcomes of the project. As the outcomes are for health care and considered across international boundaries, technology transfer will be faster than it could be expected from a typical national programme.

Workpackages

• WP1 Biosynthesis of macromolecules (lead partner: Tsinghua)
• WP2 Targeted and controlled drug delivery (lead partner: Sichuan)
• WP3 Preparation of module matrix for tissue engineering (lead partner: Pisa)
• WP4 Tissue engineering (lead partner: Keele)
• WP5 Coordination and management, staff exchange for technology transfer (lead partner: Keele)