Project: A barrier coating on plastic labware preventing leachable from the polymer
The vision:_x000D_The vision is to prevent harmful organic molecules from migrating from plastic labware products to the cells by providing barrier coated 'safe plastic labware'._x000D__x000D_Background: _x000D_Plastic labware is rutinely used in Life Science / Health R&D, as well as in clinical settings, -increasingly for critical applications where the cells manipulated in the plastic labware are repositioned within the human body, e.g. for Vitro ferilisation using embryos and semen, which are then placed in the female uterus, for stem cell therapy as well as for regenerative medicine._x000D__x000D_Even if plastic labware for critical applications is made from medical grade raw material with increased traceability, still hormone disrupting and differentiation inducing substances are found in small amounts leaching from the plastic labware. IVF procedures, where oil is added to the plastic labware to prevent media evaporation, while having naked exposed embryos in contact with the plastics, is especially critical due to the oils interaction with the plastics._x000D__x000D_Suitable barrier coating technology for plastic labware is highly dependant on adhesion properties, barrier properties, wetability properties, clearity and non-cytotoxicity, however the major challenge is to develop and optimise a high volume and low cost process taking place in a low temperature environment suitable for labwaqre plastics, while ensuring durable pin-holed free barrier layer._x000D_This will bring to market a range of commercially attractive plastic labware products coated with barrier layer for critical clinical application such as IVF._x000D__x000D_Approach:_x000D_To develop highly innovative and unique coated plastic labware products suitable for critical clinical applications such as IVF, the complementary expertise of the four project Ps, three R&D performing SME's (Vitrolife AB, Sweden, HertART ApS and InMold Biosystems A/S, Denmark) and an innovative technological service P, DTI in Denmark is required._x000D__x000D_InMolds holds the rights to coating barrier layer impermeable to small organic molecules onto plastic labware. The barrier layer will be manufactured by state-of-the-art methods, adapting and improving Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) methods traditionally used in the semiconductor industry and up-scaling it for use in the plastic labware industry in order to provide a cost effective solution applicable to existing plastic labware products._x000D_Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) is a method used COly in the semiconductor industry to reduce water permeability in critical applications, such as organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) and solar cells, where it is important that the barrier layer is completely pin-hole free._x000D_Conventional ALD takes place at elevated temperatures, which is incompatible with plastic labware, which cannot tolerate temperatures in excess of 50-70°C. A variant of ALD, Low Temperature ALD (LT-ALD) is able to provide coatings at 40-50°C, which has the potential to make it ideal for coating plastic labware. _x000D__x000D_HertART holds the rights to the only full plastic labware products range developed and approved especially for IVF. HertART will further develop and supply plastic labware products capable of efficient stacking into modified ALD chamber for cost efficient coating of barrier layer, as well as ensure regulatory approval of products. _x000D_ _x000D_DTI is accredited and operates after the standards set forward in ISO 17025. A specialty in the Laboratory for Chemistry and Microbiology is the analysis of trace amounts of organic and inorganic compounds. Being well equipped with state of the art analytical equipment, DTI will conduct leaching and extraction studies on the coated material. The laboratory will also conduct studies on how trace amounts of the barrier material migrates to the employed cell culture media to quantify the chemical stability of the coated barrier layer._x000D__x000D_Vitrolife has expertise in conducting Mouse Embryo Assay and Human Sperm Survival Assay testing for toxicity and efficacy purpose, as well as conducting clinical evaluation of IVF products. Their established global sales organisation and brand being strong within IVF, allows direct assess to global market._x000D__x000D_Expected Results:_x000D_The expected results include:_x000D_- The development of modified cost efficient low temperature ALD for coating of barrier layer on plastic labware_x000D_- The development of range of commercially attractive plastic labware products with barrier layer for critical applications for IVF and potentially stem cells and regenerative medicine_x000D__x000D_The direct beneficiaries will be the three participating SME's, who expect a substantial company growth as a result of this project, and DTI who will enrich their research competencies as well as service offerings. The indirect beneficiares will be the clinics and patients who will benefit from non-toxic coated labware , i.e. safer clinical procedures and potentially improved clinical outcome.
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Acronym
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LEACH-COAT
(Reference Number: 6197)
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Duration
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01/04/2011 - 31/03/2013
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Project Topic
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The vision of the Eurostars consortium is to develop end provide an economic coating process to prevent harmful organic molecules from migrating from the plastic labware products to cells during critical application such as InVitro Fertilisation, stem cells and regenerative medicine.
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Network
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Eurostars
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Call
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Eurostars Cut-Off 5
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Project partner
