This project seeks to develop the first micrometric-size Ultra-Efficient Wireless POwered Micro-robotic joint (UWIPOM2), enabling the creation of micro-robotic complex mechanisms for minimally invasive micro-surgery techniques and in-vivo health treatments. The foreseen robotic joint will contain a micro-motor connected to a new type of long-lasting gearbox which reduces drastically friction and simplifies assembly. Moreover, the robotic joint (motor + gear) will be wireless powered through gigahertz electromagnetic waves, thus providing infinite autonomy to any tool or micro-robot activated by UWIPOM2. The scientific-technological aim is to create the first building block able to power future healthcare micro-robots. Test in in-vivo like environment will be done to demonstrate its feasibility. If the risky scientific and technological challenges hereby proposed are overcome, radically new outstanding minimally invasive micro-surgery techniques and new non-invasive inside body treatments will be enabled, saving thousands of lives.

This proposal describes the third core project of the Graphene Flagship. It forms the fourth phase of the FET flagship and is characterized by a continued transition towards higher technology readiness levels, without jeopardizing our strong commitment to fundamental research. Compared to the second core project, this phase includes a substantial increase in the market-motivated technological spearhead projects, which account for about 30% of the overall budget. The broader fundamental and applied research themes are pursued by 15 work packages and supported by four work packages on innovation, industrialization, dissemination and management. The consortium that is involved in this project includes over 150 academic and industrial partners in over 20 European countries.

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease characterised by high blood glucose due to inadequate insulin production and/or insulin resistance which affects 382 million people worldwide. Pancreatic islet transplantation is an extremely promising cure for insulin-sensitive diabetes mellitus (ISDM), but side effects of lifelong systemic immunosuppressive therapy, short supply of donor islets and their poor survival and efficacy in the portal vein limit the application of the current clinical procedure to the most at-risk brittle Type I diabetes (T1D) sufferers. The DRIVE consortium will develop a novel suite of bio-interactive hydrogels (β-Gel) and on-demand drug release systems to deliver islets in a protective macrocapsule (β-Shell) to the peritoneum with targeted deposition using a specialised injection catheter (β-Cath). Pancreatic islets will be microencapsulated in β-Gels; biofunctionalised injectable hydrogels containing immunosuppressive agents and polymeric microparticles with tuneable degradation profiles for localised delivery of efficacy cues. These β-Gels will be housed in a porous retrievable macrocapsule, β-Shell, for added retention, engraftment, oxygenation, vascularisation and immunoprotection of the islets. A minimally invasive laparoscopic procedure (O-Fold) will be used to create an omental fold and at the same time deliver β-Shell. An extended residence time in β-Gel will enhance long-term clinical efficacy of the islets and result in improved glycemic control. The novel β-Gels will also be developed as human three-dimensional in-vitro models of in-vivo behaviour. Islet harvesting and preservation technologies will be developed to facilitate their optimised yield, safe handling and transport, and ease of storage. DRIVE will also enable the future treatment of a broader range of T1 and insulin-sensitive T2 diabetics by working with induced pluripotent stem cell experts to ensure the compatibility of our system with future stem cell sources of β-cells.

BioImplant ITN is a European Industrial Doctorate (EID) programme that will provide world-class multidisciplinary training to a new generation of high-achieving ESRs in the area of medical device development. A well-balanced consortium of academic, industry and clinical partners has been assembled to deliver the training programme, spanning a number of EU countries and industry sectors to promote international, interdisciplinary and inter-sectoral aspects of ESR skill development. The programme vision of the BioImplant ITN is to deliver technical, interdisciplinary and transferrable skills training to the ESR community all areas of the medical device development Supply Value Chain. The BioImplant ITN programme will develop improved bioresorbable materials and implement them in orthopaedic and vascular implant applications. Bioresorbable materials are rapidly gaining traction in soft and hard tissue medical implants, with both polymer- and metal-based resorbable materials having been developed for medical device applications. However, major issues relating to their poor mechanical properties and rapid degradation behaviour have limited their application. The research programme of the BioImplant ITN will address these issues by (i) targeting new processing solutions to enhance the mechanical behaviour of bioresorbable polymers and (ii) integrate high stiffness magnesium- and ceramic-based reinforcements with polymers to produce novel hybrid/composite materials with optimised functional performance. The development of these innovative biomaterials will represent a major advancement on the current state-of-the-art in bioresorbable materials and maximise commercial potential in vascular and orthopaedic applications. Furthermore, the comprehensive skillset delivered by the programme will enhance career development and employability of ESRs within the Medical Technology sector and promote their development into leading innovators in the European Medical Technology sector.