NAngioDerm Receives $822k in Funding

Microlight3D, a specialty manufacturer of high-resolution micro-scale 2D and 3D printing systems for industrial and scientific applications, has revealed that the regenerative medicine project nAngioDerm, in which it is a partner, has been selected for funding in the amount of €747K ($822K). A consortium of research agencies from several countries will distribute the European funding; among them ANR, the French National Research Agency, which will underwrite Microlight3D’s participation.
 
nAngioDerm falls within the scope of EuroNanoMed3 (2016-2021), which supports multidisciplinary and translational research and innovation projects covering regenerative medicine, diagnostics, and targeted delivery systems, under the European Horizon 2020 program.
 
Work on the project starts this month and will run for 36 months.
 
“Microlight3D is very proud to be a partner in nAngioDerm, its first European research consortium,” said Denis Barbier, CEO of Microlight3D. “Collaborating with such high-level academic organizations on such a key health issue is further recognition of the value of our 3D microprinting technology for regenerative medicine applications. This project is a great opportunity in helping to further develop our micro-scale 3D printing systems for use in future health applications.”
 
Microlight3D, one of five European partners collaborating on the nAngioDerm project, will contribute to bringing a solution to patients whose wounds from ulcers or major burns fail to heal. The partners will develop a new process and new products involving ion-release bio-materials which will promote angiogenesis for dermal regeneration. This demands skilled competences in tissue engineering, bio-active ions and cell-scaffold 3D-printing.
 
According to studies, the global burden for skin and subcutaneous diseases has increased rapidly over a 10-year period, with a prevalence of 605 million in year 2015 compared to 493 million in 2005. As many as 20 million people globally were reported in 2009 as living with acute wounds, as a result of surgery, or chronic skin ulcers. Wound care is associated with significant costs and has become a major challenge to healthcare systems worldwide. In a UK study on the health outcomes, resource implications and associated costs attributable to managing wounds in 2012/2013, the annual cost to the NHS (National Health Service) in managing wounds was estimated to be £4.5–5.1 billion. Strategies are being sought to improve the accuracy of diagnosis and healing rates.
 
Microlight3D will develop a 3D-printer and process dedicated to cell-scaffold application; a structure used in tissue engineering that provides support, enabling living tissue to regenerate itself and facilitate healing.
 
The lead partner, the Institute for Bioengineering in Catalonia (IBEC), will be responsible for bringing its research capacity in bio-active ions and bioengineering to the nAngioDerm project and coordinating the contributions of the other partners: the University of Ioannina, Greece, the Universitario Vall d’Hebron Hospital, Spain, the University of Grenoble, France, and Microlight3D.
 
Microlight3D’s selection was based on its unique ability to develop 3D-printers that can print into biomaterials with sub-cell resolution and precision.