BigelInk · Tough colloidal biomaterials for regeneration of load-bearing tissues

Musculoskeletal conditions impact the patient’s mobility and dexterity. This greatly affects the patient’s ability to work and their overall quality of life. This burden could be lifted by tissue engineering and regenerative medicine solutions, which utilizes a combination of biomaterials and cells to restore functional tissues. Current biomaterials do not provide the strength needed for use in load-bearing applications as those seen in musculoskeletal conditions. BigelInk will develop a novel biomaterial formulation that mimics the mechanical properties of the native scaffolding of load-bearing tissues. It will do this by the design of a colloidal bigel, a two-component nanoparticle system with interpenetrating phases that is both tough and soft. The developed biomaterial will be tested for its biocompatibility according to world standards to enable further clinical trials. The biomaterial generated in this project will thereby provide a novel platform for tissue regeneration of load-bearing tissues.