Researchers from Chalmers are to lead a project funded by the European network for nanomedicine, EuroNanoMed, which aims to generate body parts using a combination of nanocellulose and the body’s own cells.
Paul Gatenholm at Chalmers is leading and coordinating the work to construct an outer ear using nanocellulose and a mixture of a patients own cartilage cells and stem cells.
“We are of course extremely proud as this indicates that we are at the very forefront in European nanomedicine. But above all it is exciting that we have now taking further steps with new applications for nanocellulose,” said Gatenholm.
Previously, Gatenholm and his colleagues, working with Sahlgrenska University Hospital, succeeded in producing artificial blood vessels using nanocellulose produced by bacteria.
In the new programme, the researchers will build up a three-dimensional nanocellulose network that is an exact match the patient’s healthy outer ear. These scaffolds will have sufficient mechanical stability to be attached to the patient and then seeded with the patient’s own cartilage and stem cells.
“As yet we do not know if it will work. It is an extremely exciting project that brings together expertise in image analysis, prototype manufacturing, biomechanics, biopolymers and cell biology,” said Gatenholm.
The nanocellulose programme also includes the Biomechanics Group from ETH Zurich, clinics from Ulm University Medical Centre in Germany and Erasmus University Medical Centre in Rotterdam, as well as two small companies, the German company CellMed and the Dutch company Cellco Tec.
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