Project: Growth factors-rich EVs-functionalized graphene-on-hydrogel based skin bioactive regeneration scaffolds

Acronym GSkin (Reference Number: EURONANOMED2021-007)
Duration 01/01/2022 - 31/12/2024
Project Topic Despite an abundant supply of wound dressings, a real need remains to improve efficiency, quality of healing, and decrease costs. Nanotechnology provides unique opportunities to tackle wound healing thanks to the physical characteristics, versatility and tunability of nanostructures, making them suitable for their relevant use during the different phases of tissue repair. The GSkin project addresses the numerous skin regeneration challenges through the development of a theranostic graphene-on-hydrogel bandage loaded with platelet derived extracellular vesicles (p-EVs), the physiological healing cells of the body. The use of p-EVs is a newly-discovered potent way of cell-cell communications, acting as physiological and fully biocompatible transporting cargos of functional molecules, such as growth factors, cytokines or miRNA, capable to cross tissue barriers and promote tissue repair. A flexible and stretchable graphene-on-hydrogel matrix will be used as a reservoir for p-EVs. Graphene based field effect transistors will allow monitor the wound healing state via temperature and pH measurements. Integration of electrothermal nanoactuators, which will be activated via a telehealth approach, will allow on-demand delivery of p-EVs. The combination with the early-stage tissue repairing properties of graphene will result in improved wound healing. GSkin will be developed by a multidisciplinary and intersectoral consortium composed of academic partners, medical doctors and specialists in chronic and infected ulcers in France, Belgium and Taiwan as well as a company in France focusing on graphene coated wound bandages. Combining the synergistic properties of a wound healing nanomaterial such as graphene working in addition as sensor and actuator and a functional biological component, p-EVs, as proposed in GSkin is still unique and will be a significant step forward in the development of advanced wound dressings for difficult healing wounds such as diabetic foot ulcers.
Website visit project website
Network EuroNanoMed III
Call Joint Transnational Call (2021)

Project partner

Number Name Role Country
1 Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique Coordinator France
2 Université catholique de Louvain Partner Belgium
3 Taipei Medical University Partner Taiwan
4 Tri-Services General Hospital Partner Taiwan
5 GRAPHEAL SAS Partner France