Scientists from Wrocław University of Science and Technology, in collaboration with partners from Poland, Slovenia and Canada, will develop an innovative biomaterial for cartilage and bone regeneration. The REGENESIS project has the potential to transform the treatment of joint injuries.

Joint effort of three countries

The project has received funding under the M-ERA.NET 3 programme, which supports research in materials engineering addressing contemporary medical challenges. Wrocław University of Science and Technology leads the international consortium focused on developing a technology that could help patients suffering from joint damage.

The REGENESIS project (REvolutionising bone and cartilaGE reconstruction through Novel cell-instructive biomaterial and peptide-Enhanced Stem cell Immobilization Strategy) brings together research institutions and industrial partners from three countries: Poland, Slovenia and Canada. The project is coordinated by Dr hab. Małgorzata Gazińska, University Professor at the Faculty of Chemistry.

In addition to Wrocław Tech, Poland is represented by the University of Gdańsk, the University of Łódź and the company Polbionica. International partners include the Jožef Stefan Institute (Slovenia) as well as Université Laval and the company Biomomentum (Canada).

The total value of the project exceeds EUR 1.44 million, and it will run until 2028. It is co-funded by the National Centre for Research and Development (NCBR), PRIMA Québec (Canada), and the Slovenian Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation.

A breakthrough in treating joint injuries

“Our main goal is to design and produce an innovative bioactive implant and to develop a regenerative technology for effective healing at the interface between bone and cartilage tissue,” explains Dr hab. Małgorzata Gazińska of Wrocław University of Science and Technology.

Current treatment methods often fail to fully restore the integration of these tissues, leading to joint degeneration. The REGENESIS project addresses these clinical needs by developing a biomaterial for treating microfractures and osteochondral injuries.

“The material we are developing, called REGEniq, will have a layered structure, with each layer designed to support the regeneration of a different type of tissue,” adds Prof. Gazińska.

In practice, this means combining various bioactive components that will be gradually released to guide the regeneration of both cartilage and bone.

The international team from Poland, Slovenia and Canada will use advanced approaches such as pharmacological mobilisation of stem cells and peptide-based targeting to ensure their precise recruitment, as well as safe photocrosslinking to provide structural stability of the material. The effectiveness of tissue regeneration stimulation through mechanotransduction will also be investigated for the developed biomaterials.

Key role of the Wrocław Tech team

Scientists from Wrocław University of Science and Technology are responsible for a key stage of the project: developing and manufacturing the biomaterial and its individual layers. “We will optimise their composition to achieve appropriate kinetics of bioactive component release, as well as mechanical and viscoelastic properties similar to those of natural tissues,” explains Prof. Gazińska.

These parameters are crucial for effective regeneration. The material must not only deliver the right biological signals but also function in harmony with the body. “One of the challenges will certainly be to ensure durable bonding between the layers so that the implant does not delaminate under load,” adds the REGENESIS project coordinator.

Research on bioactive components is carried out by project partners, including teams from the University of Gdańsk led by Prof. Sylwia Rodziewicz-Motowidło, Polbionica (Dr Marta Klak), and the Jožef Stefan Institute in Ljubljana (Prof. Marija Vucomanovic). In Canada, researchers from Prof. Diego Mantovani’s team will test how the material behaves under load and how cells respond to it, while biological testing will be conducted at the University of Łódź under the supervision of Dr Aleksandra Szwed-Georgiou.

From laboratory to clinical practice

The developed material has the potential to become an advanced medical device and be used in the treatment of joint injuries—such as those affecting the knees, ankles or small joints of the hand—improving the effectiveness of procedures like arthroscopy.

“We aim to increase the technology readiness level (TRL) from 3 to 5. In practice, this means moving from early laboratory research to a stage where the solution is tested in conditions closer to real-life environments,” explains Prof. Gazińska.

This is a key step towards implementing the technology in medicine. At this stage, a biomaterial prototype will be developed and thoroughly tested both in the laboratory and in animal models in terms of safety and effectiveness.

Towards the future of regenerative medicine

The REGENESIS project is expected not only to improve patient treatment outcomes but also to reduce healthcare costs. “In the most optimistic scenario, the first patients could benefit from this technology in clinical trials in about 10 years,” says Prof. Gazińska. “Until then, further preclinical and clinical research stages will be necessary.”

However, scientists are already sharing their first results. The project concept and initial findings will be presented at the prestigious European Society for Biomaterials conference in 2026.