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Our areas of research at the Centre for Regenerative Medicine and Devices

Research and development is conducted across the three primary approaches to regenerative medicine, covering cell therapy, tissue engineering and gene therapy, while our work in regenerative medical devices includes implants, diagnostics and extracorporeal devices.

Our research covers clinical applications and biological and medical key enabling devices, resulting in projects that are applied to a range of vital medical issues that can be addressed through research in regenerative medical research. 

In the field of clinical applications, we include research into: cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, muscular-skeletal trauma and diseases, neurodegenerative diseases and sensory disfunction, and wound healing. Our research in key enabling devices includes biomaterials capable of full integration with the surrounding tissue. 

Research into cardiovascular diseases

Ischaemia and vascularisation of tissue engineering constructs are the two main drivers of our research in the field of cardiovascular applications.

For many years we have been studying the biocompatibility of cardiovascular stents, in particular the process of in-stent restenosis leading to the occlusion of the coronary artery following the implantation of the device. Biocompetent biomaterials have been developed to promote the formation of blood vessels in both damaged tissues and tissue engineering constructs to guarantee their long term viability.

Our key achievements in this field include:

• Research on cardio-vascular stents to aid coronary artery disease (CAD) due to narrowing of the coronary arteries, caused by the accumulation of cells and fat within the artery wall that narrows the lumen.
• ANGIOMAT, a project in the control of angiogenesis aiming to restore the myocardium tissue functionality using growth-factors mimicking peptides to stimulate the development of pre-existing blood vessels and enhance tissue regeneration.

Research into diabetes

Diabetes mellitus is the most common metabolic disorder in the western world, with the World Health Organisation estimating that some 300 million people will be diagnosed with diabetes over the next twenty years.

We investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the progression of both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, while developing novel treatments based on cell therapy and tissue engineering to the treatment of both forms of the disease. We are also developing a matrix of parameters to be included in personalised monitoring systems.

Read the Better lives for diabetics (pdf) article in our Making research matter

Our key achievements in this field include:

• Nano Engineering for Cross Tolerance (NEXT) (2013-2017) which sought to increase pancreatic transplantation efficiency with an higher number of islet, eventually from animals, induce tolerance toward the graft, avoiding systemic, lifetime immunosuppression and, lowering a specific inflammatory reaction and enhancing graft micro vasculogenesis to improve islet nesting.

Research into muscular-skeletal trauma and diseases

Osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, intervertebral disc degeneration, bone tumours and osteo-articular traumatic conditions are at the heart of our research.

We have developed methods of functionalisation of 3D scaffolds with hyperbranched molecules mimicking components of the extracellular matrix. These are able to improve the regeneration of cartilage and bone while controlling the presence of blood vessels that are induced in bone treatments and inhibited in cartilage regeneration. We have also developed theranostics able to provide a biospecific imaging of osteoporosis and bone tumours while treating the formation of osteoporotic fracture and bone tumour metastasis.

Our key achievements in this field include:

• The OPHIS project (2010-2014), which aimed to develop new, engineered biomaterials for the regeneration of both the osteo-chondral region and the vertebral body degenerated by osteoarthritis and osteoporosis. It explored the frontiers of knowledge of the effect of nano-structures on tissue regeneration.

Research into neurodegenerative diseases and sensory disfunction

We conduct pioneering research in understanding the basis of hearing. At the same time we are highly motivated in our research on treatments and diagnosis of severe neurodegenerative conditions.

Our key achievements in this field include:

Research into wound healing

Our podiatrists are supporting us in a systematic study of the wound healing characteristics in chronic foot ulcers and to relate the efficacy of treatments to the use of specific wound dressing.

This study has been enabling us to develop new biomaterials for wound dressings, some of them currently under pre-clinical study and CE mark evaluation stage. At the same time, the clinical data is informing the identification of tissue protective cytokines and the development of their synthetic analogues as future therapeutic agents. The clinical observations are also leading the development of in-vitro models of wound healing that aim to reduce the use of animal models both for research purposes and in the development of new products.

Our key achievements in this field include:

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• Project to elucidate how the application of a wound dressing alters the already present bacteria/fungi of healthy skin.

Biomaterials and medical devices

The research in biomaterials for regenerative medicine and medical devices at the Å·ÃÀÐÔ°®Æ¬ was established in 1993. Our flagship throughout these years has been the development of biomaterials capable of full integration with the surrounding tissue.

Our research aims to provide material based solutions to emerging global health and environmental priorities. In broad terms we undertake research into the structure, design and functional performance of natural and synthetically derived pure and composite biomaterials with diagnostic or therapeutic impact on living systems.

Our research is organised into the overlapping research areas of nanostructured biomaterials, smart and bioresponsive biomaterials and the biointerface.

Key strengths are in the blend of fundamental and applied research involving international innovation networks with academic, industrial and clinical partners to maximise research training potential and translational impact.

This allows a range of diverse and multidisciplinary research interests surrounding the structure, design and functional performance of advanced materials for use in biological and environmental systems. The applications for these materials range from medical device technologies and tissue constructs, nanotechnology, drug delivery systems, cardiovascular stenting, biosensor systems in disease diagnosis, ophthalmic biomaterials, materials which moderate host response biology, environmental decontamination and smart textile design.

Our key achievements in this field include:

• . Individual fellowship researching dual function polymer materials for blood contacting applications.
• ACROBAT, a €1.5m cross-institutional research project which is aiming to manufacture an adsorbent carbon based cartridge within a perfusion system for the removal of strongly, protein bound and macromolecular toxins and inflammatory molecules including hepatic and uremic toxins, exotoxin, endotoxin and cytokines.
• NOMAD. A series of knowledge transfer visits between partners in the USA, UK and China to push forward technology around nanostructured materials for biomedical and environmental applications.

Modelling: mathematical, in-silico and in-vitro

While capitalising on the feedback of clinicians, we are also able to predict biological responses through the development of mathematical models and in-vitro cell models. This is done particularly through the development of organoids, the formation of which is driven by biomimetic biomaterials, with testing that is integrated in microfluidics systems.

• A mathematical model that can further the understanding of the mechanical processes that underpin the formation of fluid-filled cysts (called syrinxes) in the spinal cord of patients with syringomyelia.
• Mathematical Modelling of Chemotaxis, concerned with developing mathematical models of cell motion and clustering due to chemotaxis where cells are attracted to chemical signals in the fluid that surrounds them.

Our research and enterprise impact

Our research at the Centre for Regenerative Medicine and Devices is person-centred. We listen to the opinions of the public, the patients and their relatives.

The centre explores three different routes towards future tangible impact and engagement:

1. Commercial and clinical impact
2. Educational impact
3. Societal engagement

Commercial and clinical impact

Members of the centre develop medicines and devices for commercial use. Together with university colleagues in business and marketing, they conduct negotiations for end users and industrial partners to use the innovations and developments from their research, including intellectual property rights related to biomaterials.

Soybean-based Biomaterials Exploitation Process: The Å·ÃÀÐÔ°®Æ¬ has agreed the exclusive licensing of two patents protecting IP on soybean-based biomaterials to Å·ÃÀÐÔ°®Æ¬ Wound Care Ltd (BWC). The IP originates from a ground-breaking innovation by members of the CRMD. Since then BWC has made significant progresses in exploiting the technology for the commercialisation of soybean-based wound dressings. The exploitation was supported by venture capital and led to the establishment of a new R&D and manufacturing company, Meilian Medical Technology, Suzhou, China.

Meilian Medical Technology has optimised the manufacturing of the soybean-based biomaterial formulations most suitable as wound dressings. This includes a scale-up pilot plant for the extraction of relevant compounds from soya

The results from pre-clinical studies so far collected on a number of models show excellent healing of wounds and burns. A report of the data collected so far has been issued by an independent clinical expert and it has been made available to BWC.

During the reporting period, Meilian Medical Technology has employed 7 members of the personnel. Professor Santin regularly visits the company’s premises to discuss technical and exploitation plans with the company that aims to launch their products on the market in 2019.

Tissue Click: Technology and expertise from the Centre for Regenerative Medicine and Devices has led to the establishment of Tissue Click Ltd, a company with a mission in producing biomimetic biomaterials substrates for the controlled culture of different types of cells. The product, PhenoDrive is now available on the market and attracting the interest of researchers worldwide. The company employs personnel previously at the Å·ÃÀÐÔ°®Æ¬ as either researchers or as PhD students. 

Educational impact

Members of the Centre for Regenerative Medicine and Devices have promoted and participated in national and international workshops relevant to regenerative medicine.

Through Sportomics, for example, Dr Peter Watt has engaged in the preparation of research workshops to develop a science base in Brazil which will review and judge research presentations and research grant applications. He will also carry out research into the individual responses of elite athletes to training stimuli relevant to their sport with particular focus on cell signalling processes.

Societal impact

Members of the Centre for Regenerative Medicine and Devices bring a wealth of expertise to research translation into the public domain. Their work includes representation on international panels and committees as well as being part of events that promote the understanding of science to the general public.

During his mandate as the President of the European Society for Biomaterials (September 2013-September 2017) Professor Matteo Santin commissioned and led a study on the state of the art of research translation in the biomaterial field.

The study was conducted by the INGENIO group, University Polytechnic of Valencia, Spain and circulated to relevant stakeholders including the EC, industry and interest groups. It was published in September 2017 and is available at .

Professor Santin also contributed to the preparation of a Position Paper on the state-of-the-art in Biomaterials and Tissue Engineeringendorsed by the Biomaterials Committee – Biomedical Device Division – Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3), of which he is a Fellow. IOM3 is a major UK engineering institution promoting and developing all aspects of materials science and engineering.

Professor Santin was also invited as an expert and speaker at the Foresight Project roundtable on the future of Theranostics held in Bologna, Italy on 20th 

Ongoing innovation through research partnership

A sustained joint research partnership with Biocompatibles UK Ltd has stimulated innovation underpinning the company’s product development pipeline. Products include a family of soft contact lenses, enhanced medical device coatings, and novel treatments for liver cancer. Innovative enhancements, such as the unique non-biofouling nature of the company’s ocular and cardiovascular devices and the practical utility of its drug eluting therapies for targeting liver malignancies, have delivered improved clinical performance and differentiated these products from those of competitors in the same markets.

Data produced by our researchers underpinned the submission to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the claim: ‘may provide improved comfort for contact lens wearers who experience mild discomfort or symptoms relating to dryness during lens wear’; this is the only contact lens worldwide cleared for this claim.

Our partners and collaborators

The widespread collaborative network established in recent years by the CRMD researchers makes the centre an international hub where researcher institutions, clinicians, companies, charities and policy makers can find a wide range of expertise and state-of-the-art facilities.

Clinical collaborations

The treatments developed by researchers at the Centre for Regenerative Medicine and Devices find their closest links to clinics through the practice of the University Leaf Hospital, Eastbourne, but also have links to the university’s hospitals and hospitals across Europe. At Leaf Hospital a large number of patients are treated for their foot ulcers every year providing bench mark knowledge about the process of healing and the use of wound dressings. Insights in the effect of biomaterials on the healing process in foot ulcers are obtained through a systematic study linking the wound features to the type of wound dressing used by the practitioner.

Our research publications and research and knowledge exchange projects

Details of research publications and other outputs fostered by the centre and achieved by its members, along with funded projects delivered by the centre, can be accessed on the centre's database of research.