Functionalized nanofibers for dental and dermatological applications

In the years 2012 – 2014, the Nanoprogress cluster, together with its members, successfully followed up the research of nanofibrous structures with another domestic collective research project focused on dental and dermatological applications and combined composite nanostructures. In addition to external companies, ten members of the cluster participated in the project. This project was supported by the Operational Program Entrepreneurship and Innovation within the framework of the call Cooperation - clusters call II (managing body OPPI - Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic). The main goals of the project were to speed up and improve the regeneration of skin and bone tissue defects using coaxial nanofibrous structures and to design and construct equipment for the preparation of combined composite nanofibrous structures.
In the course of the project, skin covers and bone fillers containing coaxial nanofibers with encapsulated growth factors were optimized. Bone fillers were applied to relevant animal models, with the recovery of the bone defect in its entire volume, which steered towards the growth of completely new, fully functional bone tissue. Furthermore, two functional samples of spinning equipment using alternating current were designed and constructed during the project, which is a globally unique technology characterized by significantly higher productivity compared to standard technology using direct current. Developed AC spinning equipment enables very efficient sputtering of nano- and micro-particles between the produced nanofibers, thereby creating composite nanostructures with a wide application potential. The project objectives were met in full.