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Individual Research Projects |
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BIOART is made up of 3 research Work Packages. The research objectives of each WP are carried out thanks to the work of BIOART's PhD students (Early-stage researchers - ESRs) and postdoc researchers (Experienced researchers - ERs).
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WP1 - Prototype artificial kidney device for continuous removal of uremic toxins
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Context
During hemodialysis treatment the patient visits the hospital 2-3 times a week and its blood is cleansed for about 4 hours each time using an artificial kidney device.
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The treatment removes excess body fluids (potassium and phosphate) but is inefficient in removing larger and protein-bound uremic toxins. For the removal of larger molecules and protein bound toxins, dialysis is often combined with haemoperfusion or plasma perfusion. Blood, or plasma, is purified by extracorporeal passage through a column containing adsorbent particles which remove or neutralize the toxins. The treatment is expensive and requires long hospital treatment.
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Recent sudies suggest that continuous treatment or treatment with increased frequency and duration will contribute to the gradual removal of excess fluids and improve clearance of uremic waste, potassium and phosphate.
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Thanks to 4 individual but highly interrelated projects, BIOART researchers are investigating approaches to achieve prolonged/continuous and complete removal of uremic toxins:
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ESR1 Project - Towards a new generation of dialysis: mixed matrix membranes (University of Twente)
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ESR2 Project - Middle molecules clearance through artificial kidneys (Paul Sabatier University - LGC)
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ER1 Project - Development of biocompatibility protocols (Excorlab)
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Go to the WP1 's page to learn more about each project.
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WP2 - Prototype bioartificial kidney device
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Context
In a well-functioning native kidney, the protein-bound toxins are actively secreted from blood to urine by renal tubular epithelial cells.
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BIOART researchers will achieve effective clearance of these toxins ex vivo thanks to three individual but highly interrelated projects. Tubular secretion will be mimicked by means of a bioartificial device. A prototype bioartificial kidney device will be delopped utilizing human renal epithelial cells for removal of uremic toxins.
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ESR3 Project - Development of a bioactive membrane for bioartificial kidney (University of Twente).
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ESR4 Project - Immortalized human renal epithelial cells for bioartificial kidney (RUNMC)
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ESR5 Project - Bioartificial kidney - Preclinical safety evaluation (RUNMC)
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ER1 Project - Development of biocompatibility protocols (Excolarb)
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ER2 Project - Membrane and filters for heparin removal (GVS S.p.A)
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Go to the WP2 's page to learn more about each project.
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WP3 - Prototype bioartificial liver device
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BIOART is working on the development of innovative bioreactor prototypes able to ensure the viability and prolonged functioning of hepatic cells.
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The bioreactors should overcome the limitations related to i) mass transfer of oxygen and nutrients and ii) cell sources.
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The teams and projects involved in this topic are investigating several configurations and cell types, based on their previous knowledge and the collaborations offered by BIOART.
The bioreactors developed within BIOART can be used in several applications: extracorporeal bioartificial liver; bioreactor for massive hepatic cell culture; alternative methods for animal trials in toxicology and pharmacology.
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Here's the list of all the PhD and postdoc projects contributing to WP3's objectives:
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ESR6 and ESR7 Projects: Bioartificial liver using hepatocytes and/or differentiated cells (National Research Council of Italy - Institute on Membrane Technology)
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ESR8 Project: Microencapsulation of hepatic cells for extracorporeal liver supply
(University of Technology of Compiègne)
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ESR9 and ESR10 Projects: New membrane based bioartificial liver using human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells) derived hepatocytes (University of Leipzig)
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ESR11 Project: Development of process control strategies for cell culture in membrane bioreactors (Università della Calabria)
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ER3 Project: iPS micro-encapsulation" (University of Technology of Compiègne)
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ER4 Project: New miniaturized "metabolome" bioreactor to improve in vitro testing for bioartificial liver (eXcorLab)
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ER5 Project: Regulatory issues during every stages of device development
(Bionethos Innovation B.V.)
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Go to the WP3 's page to learn more about each project.
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Research Programme