Project: Injectable hybrid hydrogel of graphene and alginate for improving cell integration in osteochondral repair

Acronym	GRAPH-OCD
Duration	01/02/2024 - 31/01/2027
Project Topic	Osteochondral defects can significantly impact an individual's quality of life. As the global population ages, there is a growing need for effective solutions for joint restoration and repair. Osteochondral repair involves the restoration of both the articular cartilage (the smooth, protective covering of the joint) and the underlying subchondral bone. Osteochondral repair through cell-free scaffolds has emerged as a promising method to address this clinical challenge. The proposed GRAPH-OCD approach combines a three-dimensional scaffold that could slowly release key signaling/differentiation factors, in particular factors that can contribute to recruiting and stimulating endogenous progenitor cells that will contribute to the regeneration of the osteochondral unit. This project aims to develop and refine strategies for osteochondral tissue engineering, specifically focusing on injectable shear-thinning sodium alginate (SA)-graphene oxide (GO) hydrogels that can be administered in a minimally invasive manner. These hydrogels possess the ability to conform to irregular defects and meet most of the requirements for successful osteochondral repair. Tissue engineering approaches in osteochondral repair have demonstrated significant potential. However, the design of an injectable scaffold that can effectively integrate repaired and native tissues is a complex task due to disparities in mechanical properties, composition, and cellularity.
Network	FLAG-ERA III
Call	Flag-ERA JTC 2023

Project partner

Name	Role	Country
Polymer Institute SAS	Coordinator	Slovakia
Nantes Université	Partner	France
Sabanci University Nanotechnology Research and Application Center	Partner	turkey