Nano engineered injectable biomaterials for osteoporotic bone treatment
My aim as an MSCA Individual Fellow is to tackle a devastating clinical orthopaedic challenge for which there is currently no reparative treatment, specifically osteoporotic vertebral fractures (OVFs), by developing an advanced biomaterial technology to restore structural integrity and function of disease-damaged bone. The scientific goal of this proposal is to develop a novel therapeutic injectable nanomaterial technology for OVFs repair. This will be achieved through an innovative research project that aims to implement a transformative strategy utilising antioxidant-ion substituted nano-particles (a-NPs) to target disease impaired osteoblast function and drive bone regeneration. In addition, an innovative biomaterial strategy will be employed, combining mechanically robust nano-silicates with a bioresorbable collagen matrix for local controlled release of therapeutic a-NPs, as a pioneering advance for OVFs treatment. As an ambitious postdoctoral fellow, the training objective of this fellowship is to attain the requisite scientific and complementary skills to successfully achieve my long-term goal of establishing an independent research programme that will contribute to Europe’s research & innovation capacity and reputation. This will be achieved through the expert supervision and input of Dr Ciara Murphy (Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland –RCSI), her colleagues in RCSI and collaborative research centre AMBER, and through research secondment with Prof Boccaccini (Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg). In addition, by managing the project, I will further develop skills relating to planning and reporting, financial management and dissemination. I will also avail of opportunities to supervise students in related projects. In summary, this Fellowship will provide invaluable help to establish an independent research niche in regenerative biomaterial development, while equipping me with the skills needed to embark on my independent research career.