Difference between revisions of "Team:Pasteur Paris"

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                     <div class="block two-third">
 
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                         <h1>Context: Why prosthetics and biocompatibility?</h1>
 
                         <h1>Context: Why prosthetics and biocompatibility?</h1>
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                         <p> In today’s society where equal access to means and opportunities is a priority, disabled citizens need to be given better tools for their daily lives. In this context, prosthetics and implants will become more and more sophisticated and we think it is necessary to develop a system to enhance the interface between the implanted-human and the mechanical component thanks to synthetic biology. One of the main actor obstructing the improvement in this domain is the connection between the nerves and the controllers. In addition, the development of bacterial biofilms on prosthetics or on other implantable devices is a major health risk. Biofilms are tolerated as they can evade the immune system. However, they may become colonized by other organisms such as S. aureus or microscopic fungi. They are responsible for chronic infections with more than 200 000 people in need of re-intervention on their devices just in the USA 1 . Some of the possible remedies include improving of the interface at the nerve or prosthetics junction, and secondly preventing this interface from getting infected by other pathogenic bacteria.</p>
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                         <p> In the future, a due consideration will be given to people with disabilities and access to healthcare. Amputees or people with an implant will have better access to high-performance bionic prostheses that will be connected to the amputated limb by neural pathways. Presently, some prostheses already allow amputees to recover partial autonomy and perform simple actions. However, these technologies do not allow a direct connection between the nerve and the prosthesis. Making nerves contact the implants is known to be a major challenge. In addition, a major health risk linked to prosthesis and implants is the development of infections, due to colonization by communities of microorganisms, called biofilms, which can sometimes become pathogenic. In order to overcome this, strong treatments with antibiotics, or even a surgical reintervention is required to remove the prosthesis. These represent a heavy burden for both the patient and trigger significant costs for our health care system.</p>
 
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                     <h1>Our project NeuronArch</h1>
 
                     <h1>Our project NeuronArch</h1>
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                         <p>With NeuronArch, instead of combating the biofilm, we will develop an innovative system by subverting it. To achieve this, we will deliberately coat the implant with a genetically modified lab-grown E. coli that would serve as an interface between the synthetic prosthesis and organic tissues. </p>
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                         <p>To tackle these issues, we imagined NeuronArch, a project that aims at improving the connection between the control mechanism of the prosthesis and the nerves, using an engineered biofilm that can act as an interface which can also combat other pathogenic biofilm infections.</p>
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                         <p>By doing so, our innovative biofilm would be capable of promoting neural connections. Secondly, it will fight other invasive pathogenic bacteria and reduce the risk of formation of an infectious biofilm. To do so, we will test the capacity of neuronal cells to grow and redirect towards a specific target under the influence of our biofilm. Then, we will test the capacity of our biofilm to diminish an invasive bacterial population in an in vitro culture titration.</p>
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                         <p>To do so, our interface produces substances called neurotrophins, allowing a directed and controlled growth of nerves. Moreover, it allows to pass the information towards the prosthesis thanks to enhanced conductive properties. Finally, in order to prevent the formation of pathogenic biofilms and increase the robustness of the system, our interface is able to fight against infections. </p>
 
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Revision as of 14:31, 21 August 2018


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Collaboration

Contact us here: igem.pasteur@gmail.com

Context: Why prosthetics and biocompatibility?

In the future, a due consideration will be given to people with disabilities and access to healthcare. Amputees or people with an implant will have better access to high-performance bionic prostheses that will be connected to the amputated limb by neural pathways. Presently, some prostheses already allow amputees to recover partial autonomy and perform simple actions. However, these technologies do not allow a direct connection between the nerve and the prosthesis. Making nerves contact the implants is known to be a major challenge. In addition, a major health risk linked to prosthesis and implants is the development of infections, due to colonization by communities of microorganisms, called biofilms, which can sometimes become pathogenic. In order to overcome this, strong treatments with antibiotics, or even a surgical reintervention is required to remove the prosthesis. These represent a heavy burden for both the patient and trigger significant costs for our health care system.

Our project NeuronArch

To tackle these issues, we imagined NeuronArch, a project that aims at improving the connection between the control mechanism of the prosthesis and the nerves, using an engineered biofilm that can act as an interface which can also combat other pathogenic biofilm infections.

To do so, our interface produces substances called neurotrophins, allowing a directed and controlled growth of nerves. Moreover, it allows to pass the information towards the prosthesis thanks to enhanced conductive properties. Finally, in order to prevent the formation of pathogenic biofilms and increase the robustness of the system, our interface is able to fight against infections.

Figure 3 : This is us

References

1: Treatment of Infections Associated with Surgical Implants, Darouiche R. New England Journal of Medicine (2004)