LifeLink · Lifesaving Innovation of Flow-Enhanced Membranes with Endothelium-Mimicking Coatings for Uterine-Like Artificial Placenta

LifeLink will devise a totally new concept for an interactive artificial placenta (AP) that can provide safer and more efficient oxygenation to pre-term babies giving them the chance to bridge until the point they can breathe on their own. Pre-term birth is the leading cause of death in children under five, with over 1 million deaths annually due to complications. To address this, pre-term infants require continuous oxygenation as they would receive in the womb, yet no extracorporeal oxygenator currently exists for this purpose. LifeLink aims to fill this gap by developing an innovative AP platform that overcomes two key challenges: hemocompatibility and the excessive cardiac stress caused by high flow resistance. The project pioneers a bioinspired, endothelium-mimetic coating that integrates the three key endothelial functions—stealth, modulation, and interaction—into a single hemocompatible layer. This design reduces the need for anticoagulants and minimizes thrombogenicity. The coating, featuring antifouling brushes, FXIIa inhibitors, and tPA (tissue plasminogen activator), mimics the natural endothelium’s ability to prevent clot formation, regulate coagulation, and promote fibrinolysis, making it ideal for blood-contacting devices like oxygenators. LifeLink will enhance gas exchange and flow dynamics using triply periodic minimal surface (TPMS) designs, such as gyroid structures, to lower cardiac stress and eliminate the need for external pumps. These 3D membranes will be fabricated via centrifugal casting and tested for gas transport, hemocompatibility, and clot-dissolving capabilities, with polymer brush coatings to boost performance. This interdisciplinary approach, structured across three work packages—developing endothelium-mimetic coatings, designing TPMS-based membranes, and conducting hemocompatibility and gas transfer tests—seeks to revolutionize pre-term care, providing a validated solution for AP systems and improving outcomes for premature infants.