A scientific consortium, of which the University of Gdańsk is member, has won the 2019 Polish Smart Growth Award under the patronage of the President of the Polish Patent Office, Dr Alicja Adamczak. The award was given in the category “Innovative future technologies” for the implementation of the project “Multifunctional composite material with antimicrobial and pro-regenerative properties for the reconstruction of bone tissue". The University of Gdańsk is represented in the consortium by Dr hab. Sylwia Rodziewicz-Motowidło, associate professor from the Faculty of Chemistry.
The project aims to devise and produce biologically active material to replace bone loss and act as a cell matrix, at the same time assisting in the regeneration of damaged tissue. The application of such biomaterial will greatly accelerate the healing process and eliminate a number of post-operative complications. The value of the biomaterials market is estimated at circa $42 billion in annual sales, with an annual trend rate of growth of about 15-18%. The rapid growth in this sector is connected with its positive influence on the quality and length of human life. Biomaterials are of great significance to regenerative medicine, in bone reconstruction for example, and are undergoing constant improvement, especially when it comes to integration with body tissues and their ability to regenerate tissue.
The leader of the scientific consortium is the Institute of Ceramics and Building Materials. Partners of the project, alongside the University of Gdańsk, include Wrocław University of Science and Technology, the Institute of Biotechnology and Molecular Medicine and the company SensDx S.A. The project has received funding as part of the Strategic programme for scientific research and development work by the National Centre for Research and Development (NCBiR) “Modern materials technologies ─ TECHMATSTRATEG".
The University of Gdańsk is represented in the consortium by Dr hab. Sylwia Rodziewicz-Motowidło, associate professor from the Faculty of Chemistry.
Design work will be implemented by an interdisciplinary research team which combines expertise and experience in the following fields:
designing and research into ceramic and composite biomaterials, devising and implementing bioceramics and bioglass technologies (Institute of Ceramics and Building Materials);
physical and chemical modification of polymers as well as synthesis, with particular focus on biodegradable and bioresorbent polymers (Wrocław University of Science and Technology);
designing, synthesis and research into structural bioactive and skeletal peptides, devising methods of peptide synthesis and analytical methods, synthesis and modification of peptides and their analogues (University of Gdańsk);
molecular biology, genetic engineering, analytical methods, working with cell lines and research into cytotoxicity and proliferation (Institute of Biotechnology and Molecular Medicine);
commercialisation, certification and implementation of medical products (SensDx S.A.).
The Polish Smart Growth Award has been presented since 2016, and winners of this prestigious distinction are future-oriented organisations and individuals. All the projects, investments and undertakings implemented by the winners are innovative and serve as the best examples of sustainable and smart growth. The initiator and organiser of the award is the Smart Growth Centre.
