As part of our winter project activities, the BioMeld research consortium gathered at the University of Cagliari for a two-day meeting.
All project research groups came to Sardinia to present their progress, discuss ongoing challenges, and plan future steps. The primary focus was on bridging the gap between simulation and experimental work, addressing catheter integration challenges, and planning exploitation strategies.
The Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna (SSSA) team presented findings on catheter design and bending properties. Their research tested optimal dimensions for the catheter tip and explored how different pillar configurations affect force transmission.
The IBEC team demonstrated that circular-shaped muscle actuators outperform other designs, and that three-dimensional culturing methods provide more consistent results than traditional two-dimensional approaches. Their experiments also showed how the muscle tissue responds to different electrical stimulation patterns, with factors like frequency, strength, and positioning.
The development of a specialized bioreactor chamber to sustain the living components represents another
engineering achievement. IBEC team is working on a sealed environment that allows for continuous perfusion of cell culture medium without leakage which
is essential for maintaining the bioactuator during use.
As with many complex technologies, the integration of individual components presents significant challenges. Our teams identified that sensor integration reduces the catheter’s flexibility, requiring stronger actuation forces than currently available. Similarly, spatial constraints necessitate smaller pillars, which struggle to effectively transmit force. As a response to these findings, UNICA is developing a lighter sensor design using a thin parylene film, while SSSA and IBEC are investigating more rigid materials for the pillars to improve force transmission.
The UWE team showcased their evolvable morphology generator, which uses advanced neural network approaches to optimize design parameters. The UNSPF group presented comprehensive modeling and simulation framework that helps predict system behavior under different conditions.
Complementing the technical development, SS researchers outlined their Bio-intelligent Manufacturing System, providing a roadmap for production that covers catheter manufacturing, electronic platform integration, muscle tissue fabrication, and bioreactor assembly.
An important aspect of our discussions focused on commercialization strategies. The project faces typical challenges of early-stage biomedical technologies, including regulatory requirements and the gap between research prototypes and commercial products. Currently at a relatively low Technology Readiness Level (TRL), the team is working to attract potential partners who specialize in developmental-stage medical device components.
The consortium has established a clear list of next steps focused on bridging the gap between simulation and experimental work. Two upcoming meetings are scheduled: an online session in March to review Sim2Real gap-closing activities and regulatory requirements, followed by an in-person meeting at Sant’Anna, Pisa in late May for integration testing and validation experiments.
Even though significant challenges remain, the meeting highlighted the progress made across all aspects of BioMeld project. We are continuing to push boundaries in biohybrid medical devices, with potential applications that extend far beyond current catheter capabilities.
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 101070328.
Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.