DrugCer | Cold Sintering Process for Fabrication of Biodegradable Drug-Eluting Ceramics

Summary
DrugCer proposes a paradigm shift in drug delivery for bone restoration by making drugs an inherent part of a biodegradable ceramic implant. Such a new approach would require drug loading during ceramic sintering, which in turn requires multidisciplinary research and development of low-temperature/cold ceramic processing. Accordingly, the main research goal of DrugCer is to apply a novel pressure-assisted “Cold Sintering Process” (CSP) for co-sintering of biodegradable ceramics with drugs. To achieve the goal, the researcher will receive advanced training in CSP and develop the co-sintering process by establishing a relationship between the processing parameters and properties of the resulting bioceramics. She will train in and master cryo-focused ion beam milling and cryo-scanning transmission electron microscopy to investigate the process kinetics and densification mechanisms. Finally, she will train in and develop methods for complex shaping to adapt the method for potential translation to preclinical studies. Cold-sintering will decrease energy consumption in bioceramics’ fabrication. It will also enable bioceramic co-sintering with other temperature-sensitive materials (e.g., polymers), opening paths to innovations in fields beyond orthopedics or even medicine (e.g., construction ceramics).
Multidisciplinary supervising teams at Fraunhofer IKTS (host) and Penn State University (secondment) will support training through research and transferrable skills development (grant writing, teaching/mentoring, project management, networking, and horizontal skills). Inter-sectoral communication with Charité hospital (short visits) will ensure high-quality guidance in developing prospective biomedical technology from its very beginning. Thus, DrugCer will equip the researcher with unique expertise, skills, and a professional network for establishing an independent group in the niche of low-temperature, energy-efficient ceramic processing.
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More information & hyperlinks
Web resources: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101063841
Start date: 01-08-2023
End date: 31-07-2025
Total budget - Public funding: - 173 847,00 Euro
Cordis data

Original description

DrugCer proposes a paradigm shift in drug delivery for bone restoration by making drugs an inherent part of a biodegradable ceramic implant. Such a new approach would require drug loading during ceramic sintering, which in turn requires multidisciplinary research and development of low-temperature/cold ceramic processing. Accordingly, the main research goal of DrugCer is to apply a novel pressure-assisted “Cold Sintering Process” (CSP) for co-sintering of biodegradable ceramics with drugs. To achieve the goal, the researcher will receive advanced training in CSP and develop the co-sintering process by establishing a relationship between the processing parameters and properties of the resulting bioceramics. She will train in and master cryo-focused ion beam milling and cryo-scanning transmission electron microscopy to investigate the process kinetics and densification mechanisms. Finally, she will train in and develop methods for complex shaping to adapt the method for potential translation to preclinical studies. Cold-sintering will decrease energy consumption in bioceramics’ fabrication. It will also enable bioceramic co-sintering with other temperature-sensitive materials (e.g., polymers), opening paths to innovations in fields beyond orthopedics or even medicine (e.g., construction ceramics).
Multidisciplinary supervising teams at Fraunhofer IKTS (host) and Penn State University (secondment) will support training through research and transferrable skills development (grant writing, teaching/mentoring, project management, networking, and horizontal skills). Inter-sectoral communication with Charité hospital (short visits) will ensure high-quality guidance in developing prospective biomedical technology from its very beginning. Thus, DrugCer will equip the researcher with unique expertise, skills, and a professional network for establishing an independent group in the niche of low-temperature, energy-efficient ceramic processing.

Status

SIGNED

Call topic

HORIZON-MSCA-2021-PF-01-01

Update Date

09-02-2023
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Horizon Europe
HORIZON.1 Excellent Science
HORIZON.1.2 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
HORIZON.1.2.0 Cross-cutting call topics
HORIZON-MSCA-2021-PF-01
HORIZON-MSCA-2021-PF-01-01 MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2021