BNN - Quarterly - 04/2023 by bnn-bionanonet

ISSUE 04/2023

QUARTERLY Digital Magazine for Developments in Sustainable Technology

FOCUS TOPIC:

I nnovation in Nanomedicine: Chances for Strengthening the Field

I N N O VAT I O N I S T H E K E Y . S U S TA I N A B I L I T Y L E A D S T H E WA Y .

Cover: © BNN/Attila Primus

W W W . B N N . AT

Editorial 2023 – A YEAR IN REVIEW

For 17 years, BNN has been active in a field that is hugely impactful to g lobal society: nanomedicine. Hence, in this issue we are presenting achievements of BNN and its e cosystem in Innovation in Nanomedicine: Chances for Strengthening the Field. Together with many of our m embers, we are working tirelessly to champion the cause of nanomedicine in Europe and b eyond, whether within our EU-funded projects such as PHOENIX-OITB, which is creating a single- entry-point for nano-pharmaceutical innovation, or in our core services. Let’s reflect on the year 2023: BNN has contributed to the nanomedicine field by boosting the activities of the NanoMedicineAustria technology platform, founded in 2015, which was active this year at the BioNanoMed Conference in Graz, sponsoring the Best Talk Award, and at the CLINAM 2023 conference on the Novartis campus in Basel. In addition, as partner of the COST Action Nano2Clinic and in our role in PHOENIX-OITB project, we supported the highly successful Nano2Clinic Stakeholder Workshop: Synergies for Clinical Translation of Nanotechnology in Cancer Therapies in Zagreb (Croatia), hosted by BioNanoNet member Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health (IMI) this spring. Events like this, bringing e ngaged p articipants from far and wide, remind us of the value and importance of building and maintaining strong networks like ours. QUARTERLY ISSUE 04/2023

Back in 2015 BNN had kicked-off the n ational technology platform Sustainable Chemistry Austria (SusChem-AT), directly connected and part of the European Technology Platform SusChem (ETP-SusChem). 2023 was a highlight, as we hosted the chair of the ETP twice in person at our national events, in spring at the SusChem-AT & CHASE Expert Day in Linz on Transformation towards Sustainable Process Industries and at the RoundTable of the 8th EPNOE International P olysaccharide Conference this autumn in Graz. Outstanding this year was the SusChem-AT Focus Day 2023 titled “Green Chemical Engineering: Get it Started!”, at the TU Vienna, certified with the Austrian Ecolabel for Green Events and Green Meetings, fulfilling eco-friendly standards set by the Austrian Ministry for the Environment. This shows compliance with BNN’s vision to secure a sustainable and prosperous society - which is only possible if we set an example. Furthermore, the platform that started in 2010 as Medical Sensor Solutions has developed into our internationally open platform Advanced Microfluidics Initiative (AMI). Its focus on m icrofluidics technology brought BNN in the role of leading and organizing the final d issemination event of the EU project PRIME, entitled “Microfluidics in their P RIME: Microfluidic Chips, Active Valves, Smart Sensors, and What Comes

Next” in Vienna, this groundbreaking project with our innovation-focused OITB project NextGenMicrofluidics.

of the EU-NanoSafetyCluster in 2023, we upgraded the branding and logo, and completely refurbished the communication channels of the nanosafety community. Now, we continuously update the NSC- community about relevant news and events through the website and m onthly email updates. Additionally, we contributed to the organization of the nanoSAFE and NanoSafetyCluster Joint Conference in Grenoble in June, co-organized in the frame of several of our n anosafety- related EU projects. We also launched the NanoSyn4 project and supported the nanoNET-Austria Meeting & NanoSyn4-Joint Meeting in May and October. Finally, BNN contributed to two governance briefs on nano risk governance for the Gov4Nano project.

From one “AMI” to another, advanced m aterials was the buzzword of 2023 for our community, and we were honored to host Lars Montelius, Co-Chair of the Advanced Materials Initiative – AMI2030 (now transforming to IM4EU initiative) at our office in Graz for an in-depth interview. The next day, Prof. M ontelius gave the BioNanoNet community a riveting keynote speech on advanced materials and p articipated in our BNN Networking Event at Lendhafen in Graz. Fittingly, BNN also kicked off the newly awarded project AdMa4Med, in which we will look at the safe and sustainable use of advanced materials in medical devices, including regulatory aspects. We look f orward to coordinating this important project, in which Last but not least, we have been sharpening we collaborate with BioNanoNet m ember our expertise in Safe-and-Sustainable-by- JOANNEUM RESEARCH and the Austrian- Design (SSbD). Notably, the SSbD framework, based SME PHORNANO Holding GmbH. formulated by the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission, fueled a cause At the international level, we a chieved BNN has been dedicated to since its founding. milestones in the realm of nanoOur commitment to advancing the field was safety and safe-and-sustainable-by-design acknowledged as the E uropean Commission (SSbD). Since 2017, BNN has been extended a coveted invitation for BNN to coordinating INISS-Nano, the “international p articipate in the SSbD Boot Camp held at the n etwork initiative on safe and sustainable JRC in Ispra, Italy, in September and the 5th nanotechnology”, with several highlights Stakeholder Workshop in SSbD in Brussels in in 2023: the webinar on “ International December. Nanosafety and Nanostandardization”, coorganized by Ali Beitollahi, attracting 65 at- We are privileged to put our k nowledge into tendees from 20 countries; the webinar on practice, providing SSbD activities within new “Reflections on the Precautionary Principle”, projects such as CHEMSAVE and NABIHEAL, co-organized by Ineke Malsch; and the 6th as well as in large consortia such as IRISS and EU-Asia Dialogue on NanoSafety in Berlin, co- PARC. Our work in SSbD builds on our Safe-byorganized and h osted by Anke Jesse from the Design initiatives in many ongoing projects, German Federal Ministry for the Environment. such as NextGenMicrofluidics, P HOENIX-OITB, DeDNAed, BreadCell, NanoPAT, and As BNN took over communications work SIXTHSENSE. A testament to our commitment 4

to safety and sustainability, our publication in EUropainfo encapsulates a decade of research on safety and sustainability, firmly establishing BNN as a leader in the a pplication of these principles to the realm of chemicals. This year, we have expanded our Design for Technology Development (DfTD) and Innovation Support teams, and are proud to offer expertise in chemistry, biochemistry, m olecular medicine, pharmacy and environmental systems science. Additionally, we are well equipped to respond to the needs of companies in terms of innovation and business support and provide advice on regulatory and business-related matters. As we look ahead to 2024, our strategic vision is clear: we are dedicated to further enhancing our support areas, especially guidance on SSbD and regulatory affairs, to optimize the level of service available to existing and future clients. We’d like to take this opportunity to thank our readers, BioNanoNet members and project partners for their continued support to make 2023 such a productive, rewarding year!

All the best for the new year, Andreas Falk

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Table of contents

ISSUE 04/2023

Editorial

BNN News

New BioNanoNet Staff

BNN Retrospect

BNN Brings Nanomaterials to the Public at European Researchers’ Night 2023

23. nanoNET-Austria Meeting & 2. NanoSyn4-Joint Meeting

Unveiling the Future of Clinical Nanomedicine: Insights from the CLINAM 2023 Summit

HTS Establishes First Austrian Biotech Summit in Graz

SusChem-AT Focus day 2023: “Green Chemical Engineering – Get It Started”

Advancing the concept of Safe-andSustainable-by-Design

FOCUS TOPIC OF THIS ISSUE: I nnovation in Nanomedicine: Chances for Strengthening the Field

Technology Platform NanomedicineAustria

TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S

BioNanoNet members and p artners found PHOENIX OITB gGmbH to support innovation in nanopharmaceutical development

Antimicrobial Peptide Delivery Through Magnetic Nanoparticles

International Consortium Drives Innovations in Nanopharmaceutical Manufacturing

Multiphoton Lithography as a Promising Tool Serving Biomedical Applications

Proven for the First Time: The Microbiome of Fruit and Vegetables Positively Influences Diversity in the Gut

Recent Scientific Publications of our BioNanoNet Members

Member Updates

Member Presentation of “Polymer Chemistry & Biomaterials Group”

Project Presentations & Updates

Member Interview with Sandra van Vlierberghe from the Polymer Chemistry & Biomaterials Group, University of Ghent

AdMa4Med Project Kicked Off

DeDNAed Meeting and Interactive Training of the Consortium

NanoPAT Newsletter #07 released

PRIME project delivers an advanced fabrication technology platform for microfluidic devices

STARS Project Successfully Concluded

Outlook

BNN Events & Events Supported by BNN

Finally

46 48

Green and Digital Transformation: Wrap-up Zukunftskonferenz 2023 GreenX3: Innovative and Sustainable Materials, Processes and Technologies for a GREENer and Circular Economy Researchers at TU Graz Decipher Enzyme Scissors of Intestinal Microbes ASTROCARDIA: Sending Miniature Hearts to Space for Investigation of Accelerated Cardiac Aging

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BNN NEWS N E W S TA F F We are happy to welcome our new BNN team member: Matiss Reinfelds I was born in Rīga and pursued my studies in chemistry at the University of Latvia. During my studies, I worked as a laboratory assistant at the Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis. Applying the theoretical knowledge gained at the university to real-life situations in earlystage drug discovery, specifically in library synthesis, was extremely exhilarating for me. Upon completing my master's degree, I furthered my education in Germany, a c ountry known for its strong traditions in chemical research. As a member of the research training group CLiC at Goethe U niversity Frankfurt, I collaborated closely with other young scientists from diverse disciplines, gaining insights into their respective fields and learning valuable lessons about working towards shared goals. My dissertation focused on photolabile protecting groups. Transitioning into my next career step, I took on the position of a research assistant (postdoc) at the Institute for Materials at Graz University of Technology, where my research concentrated on organic solar cells. A soft spot in my heart for chemistry and an interest in sustainability that began in my youth drew me to BNN. I firmly believe that my background in chemistry and research experience will significantly contribute to assisting our partners in implementing safe and sustainable design concepts. As a board

member of the Latvian Association of Young Researchers, I gained valuable insights into the role of NGOs in engaging with society at large and influencing policies through collaboration with public authorities. This experience enhances my capacity to contribute effectively to BNN's vision of s haping the European hightech e cosystem tosecure a sustainable and prosperous society. Contact matiss.reinfelds@bnn.at ORCID profile LinkedIn

N E W S TA F F We are happy to welcome our new BNN team member: Julia Voglhuber-Höller

I am Julia Voglhuber-Höller, one the most recent additions to BNN’s Scientific Research workforce. I joined BNN after working in a cademic research for several years and am excited to embark on this new chapter in my career. Born and raised in Salzkammergut, one of the most picturesque regions of Austria, I pursued my studies in molecular biology and m icrobiology at the University of Graz. Building on this foundation, I continued my academic journey at the Medical University of Graz, where I recently completed my doctoral studies in molecular medicine, earning my PhD. During these last years I investigated remodeling in cardiac disease, with lasting impacts on cellular structure and function.

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On a personal note, I am an open- minded and outgoing individual with a passion for science communication and organization. My dedication in these areas has e arned me multiple awards for my scientific work, which I am beyond honored to have received. I also enjoy any opportunity to e ngage in i nterdisciplinary and internationally connected work, which is why I spent some time abroad in Denmark and the USA. I was fortunate to work and study under some of the brightest researcher at the University of Southern Denmark and the University of California Davis, further enhancing my skillset and knowledge. Being aware of the dramatic environmental challenges we are currently facing, and that the situation will be aggravated unless action is taken, I was looking for ways to make an impact in shaping a more sustainable future using the skillset I acquired in my career so far. Therefore, I am excited for my next career steps at BNN, contributing to Safe-and- Sustainable-by-Design concepts in European research projects. My scientific background in molecular biology and medicine will enable me to assess and improve aspects of safety and sustainability in EU projects. In return I am thrilled to be involved in such a diverse and interesting set of projects, learning something new every day.

BNN NEWS

My hope is to make a lasting impact for a b etter, more sustainable future, shaping the innovations of tomorrow alongside the BNN network! Looking forward to working together and all the best, Julia Voglhuber-Höller Contact julia.voglhuber-hoeller@bnn.at ORCID profile LinkedIn

BNN’s Regulatory Expertise: An Interview with Daniel García We cordially welcome our new BNN team member Daniel García! Daniel has recently joined the BNN team as Regulatory Specialist in the development of (nano)drugs and medical devices. He has an extensive background and proven track record in a ccompanying biotech and pharma companies from all over the world through the development of their products by providing his strategic vision and guidance. We sat down with Daniel to learn more about his regulatory expertise. Daniel, can you give us a brief introduction to regulatory: i.e., what does the activity involve when it comes to the development of medicinal products or medical devices? First, I would like to thank BNN for giving me the opportunity to incorporate regulatory guidance and expertise as part of the BNN service portfolio. This will definitively reinforce and provide additional value to the current activities within the company.

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Going back to your question, regulatory as such is a big word and can mean different things depending on the context. Essentially, the drug development process, as well as the development of medical devices, is a strictly regulated process with the aim to preserve public health. Like in many other i ndustries, there is a regulatory system in place to e nsure that developers comply with certain requirements, even before a product can be translated to clinics and applied in humans. These regulatory require-

ments are mainly related to the e xistence of experimental evidence supporting the safety and the e fficacy of the product in a certain condition. It is also expected that the product itself and its manufacturing process attain a certain quality level. The requirements increase along the development process, i.e., from less s tringent at early stages to the most stringent level once the product is ready to enter into clinical investigations and finally to the market. Lastly, the regulatory authorities have the ultimately word to decide whether a product under d evelopment has shown sufficient clinical benefit and an acceptable level of risk for patients to be authorised. The regulation process has evolved over the years – sometimes and very unfortunately due to serious accidents (e.g., Thalidomide, TeGenero-Theralizumab) – and the regulators have become more accessible to developers. They would like to be present already at an early stage and support companies from the very beginning to avoid later failures. Nowadays, there are also new regulatory m echanisms that aim to facilitate p roducts with higher impact in public health to reach the market as soon as possible, e.g., products targeting unmet medical needs. Also, p roducts targeting the most v ulnerable part of society, i.e., children and patients affected by rare conditions or diseases, are covered with and follow very specific regulations that facilitate the development of medicines/products addressing their needs.

How long have you been in this field and what kind of skills do you need to work in regulatory? I used to work for big pharma companies for a couple of years, dealing with regulatory aspects impacting the products once they are commercialised. There are regular communications between the companies and the regulators to keep both sides informed on different matters like pharmaceutical quality updates, etc. This type of work, known as post-authorization, constitutes a large volume of work within regulatory. During the past ten years I became more involved in regulatory strategic consulting for drug development, mainly dealing with small and medium-sized biotech and pharma companies. My activities were mainly focused on the EU as well as the US, although I have some experience targeting Latin American and Asian markets as well. In terms of educational background, the regulatory field is very heterogenous. In my case, I studied pharmacy in Salamanca, my hometown in western Spain, and as any other expert I acquired capabilities by going through new cases and technologies. The direct contact with regulators via scientific consultation is a key element and source of knowledge as well for any regulatory e xpert. Guidelines governing drug development are valuable documents but they do not a ddress everything. The job and added value of a senior regulatory consultant is going b eyond guidelines to advise the company about the regulatory challenges the company might face in the future, in order to overcome them and minimise the time to market.

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Let’s talk about biotech – in your experience, which challenges do biotech companies most commonly face, and how can a regulatory specialist can help them? The challenges vary depending on the stage of development, but ensuring long-term financial support is almost always a key issue for young companies. Our recommendation is clear: try to reduce uncertainty for the investors by d efining which experimental information/tests and regulatory activities need to be done to reach certain milestones along the development of the specific product, and translating how this impact cost and time. It is at this level where we can help the most, by performing a gap analysis and a detailed strategic roadmap thereafter. The regulatory interactions can be used to clarify certain aspects and validate the plan. For example, to get an orphan drug designation, if possible, adds value at an early stage to the technology under development. In general terms, it is v ital to consider strategic questions at the early stages of the development process, especially with the new and state-of-the-art emerging technologies, to categorise a product (e.g. medical device vs. medicinal product) or at a later stage to agree on a registration package. I have vast experience in interacting with the FDA and EMA, as well as national regulatory authorities in Europe, and dealing with the mentioned challenges.

technologies through honest and professional guidance. For more information about the regulatory consulting support visit the BNN website.

Contact daniel.garcia@bnn.at LinkedIn

I have only recently joined BNN, but in t hese short weeks I have already noticed that BNN’s spirit is to stay in close contact with its m embers and customers, ideally to b ecome long-term partners and benefit from each other. I’m happy to join the team and the company and get the opportunity to help companies and researchers to develop their QUARTERLY ISSUE 04/2023

BNN RETROSPECT

BNN Brings Nanomaterials to the Public at European Researchers’ Night 2023 On Friday, 29 September 2023, BNN joined researchers across Europe for simultaneous public science events in dozens of European cities. In Graz we joined European Researchers’ Night 2023 at Universalmuseum Joanneum – a great venue in the heart of the city. Under the title “Life is Science – in a d igital world”, the Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology (acib) and St. Pölten U niversity of Applied Sciences jointly organised this fantastic event to present engaging, hands-on activities suitable for people of all ages, from

children to students to adults, offering them a glimpse into the daily activities of several research institutions on the topics of Health & Food, Climate & Environment, Digital Transformation and Culture & Community. Around 70 people stopped by the BNN booth “Nanomaterials & Nanotechnology Games – Match the Nanomaterial!” to match microscopic images of nanomaterials to their real-life applications. Young visitors showed off their lab skills by performing experiments on the Lotus Effect, creating magnetic fields

with ferrofluid, or writing secret messages with our “magic ink” containing nanoparticles used in anti-fog coatings. Even the youngest visitors loved using a pipette to create large and small water droplets on hydrophobic and hydrophilic surfaces! It was exciting to be s urrounded by so many companies, organizations and projects from our community – from lab m eats to green tech skills to virtual reality, the offerings were a delight for experienced and budding scientists alike. BNN provided materials from our projects such as: DeDNAed, DIAGONAL, HARMLESS, NABIHEAL, NanoPAT, NextGenMicrofluidics, PHOENIX-OITB, PRIME, SABYDOMA, and others. Find out more about the Graz event at www.lifeisscience.at . View some of our pictures here:

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BNN's table at the European Reseachers' Night 2023.

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23. nanoNET-Austria Meeting & 2. NanoSyn4-Joint Meeting The 23rd nanoNET-Austria Meeting on 4th October 2023 in Lustenau, Austria was e mbedded in the framework of the Millennium Innovation Days and organized as the 2nd NanoSyn4 Joint Meeting with the support of the Smart Textiles Platform, as well as by BNN with the NanoSyn4 project. This enabled us to reach an a udience of the Austrian nano community b eyond the circle of members and interested parties of nanoNET-Austria. At the beginning of the DEFENSE & NANO program, lectures were given on the topic of textile-integrated sensors and electronics for monitoring the vital functions of people in need of care. These were followed by a focus on nano-based gas sensors for monitoring environmental conditions and the health status of people. The technical block was concluded with p resentations on the production of functional nano-surfaces and passive optical elements for communication and medical applications. In addition, a presentation on current topics and activities of the Federal Ministry for C limate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology (BMK) in the field of production technologies and a report from the nanoNET-Austria network with an outlook on the planned events, in particular the planned presentations at international trade fairs and delegation trips, was given.

In detail, the following invited talks were held in a hybrid format: •

Multisensorales körpergetragenes Vital-Monitoring System für militärische Schulungs-, Trainings- & Einsatzszenarien; Alexander Almer, Joanneum Research

•

Transport von kontaminierten Soldaten ein Blick in die Zukunft; Philipp Ostertag, Autoflug

•

ADTA - Testing and development of materials, systems and field applications for the Austrian Army; Ernst Klaps, BMLV

•

ABC-Schutzzelt für den zivilen Einsatz; Tobias Berchtold, Grabher Group

•

Textile integrated electronics for vital function monitoring; Georgios Kokkinis, Silicon Austria Labs

•

Self-sustain textile sensor for breathing and pulse detection; Ashaduzzaman Khan, V-trion

•

Nanosensors- Next Generation of Gas Sensors for Environmental and Health Monitoring; Larissa Egger, Materials Center Leoben

•

Fabrication of Functional Surfaces and Nanostructure for enhanced Products; Michael Haslinger, Profactor

•

Passive optical components for telecom and medical applications; Dana Seyringer, FHV

•

Overview of nano-activities from the perspective of the BMK; Alexander Pogany, BMK

•

Report on activities of nanoNET-Austria; Rudolf Heer, Silicon Austria Labs & nanoNET-Austria

The meeting was closed by Rudolf Heer after a Q&A session and a summary of the presented and discussed topics. A live video stream was conducted. This event was funded by the BMK project.

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CLINAM 2023 Summit - Discussion

Unveiling the Future of Clinical Nanomedicine: Insights from the CLINAM 2023 Summit In the field of nanomedicine, where innovation is key to transformative healthcare solutions, the CLINAM Conference on Clinical Nanomedicine proved to be a beacon of progress d uring its three-day exploration of cutting-edge developments. From October 9-11, 2023, experts from various fields of nanomedicine gathered for the 14th edition of the European and global CLINAM Summit to present and discuss the latest developments in nanomedicine. After two fully v irtual summits in 2020 and 2022, the non-profit European Foundation for Clinical Nanomedicine invited international experts to the Novartis Campus in Basel, Switzerland, to once again p articipate in the unique traditional platform that offers a scientific program highlighting the current state of nanomedicine in production, development and in the clinic for prevention, diagnosis and therapy. Since the development of mRNA vaccines based on lipid nanoparticles, nanomedicine has gained much attention and matured to the point where the field is highly recognized. The CLINAM Summit provided the right moment to review the development of the technology and take a look at the products and their use in clinical medicine at the patient's bedside. Three days, twenty-five sessions, two Nobel laureates: a deep dive into nanomedicine Over the course of three fully-packed dynamic days, CLINAM 2023 offered a captivating series

BNN RETROSPECT

of 25 sessions, each unraveling the complexities of nanomedicine. From lipid nanoparticles and targeted drug delivery to biosensors, cancer nanomedicine, graphene, polymeric micelles and dendrimers, the sessions provided a comprehensive overview of the various facets shaping the future of clinical nanomedicine. The conference featured two Nobel laureates (Prof. Lehn and Prof. Yonath) who provided valuable insights into their research results. Their presentations were a testament to the importance of CLINAM as a global platform for knowledge exchange and inspiration. A showcase of innovation: 108 posters and more than 80 poster presentations An extensive poster exhibition with 108 posters and more than 80 poster pitch presentations highlighted the depth and breadth of research within the nanomedicine community. This showcase of innovation served as a melting pot of ideas and encouraged direct exchange between participants and presenters. The lively atmosphere at CLINAM 2023 extended beyond the sessions and posters, as numerous exhibition booths provided a hub for the latest advances in nanomedicine. Attendees took the opportunity to engage in numerous discussions and make connections that will undoubtedly shape the future of this dynamic field. Spotlight on BNN’s contributions to the conference Members of the BioNanoNet Association and members of the Technology Platform NanoMedicine-Austria as well as BNN itself made a significant contribution to CLINAM 2023 with compelling presentations that underscored their commitment to advancing the field: "Chemical Evolution of Amphiphilic Xenopeptides for Cas9 Ribonucleoprotein Delivery" by Ulrich Lächelt, University of Vienna "Next-Level Chemical Tools for Bioorthogonal Click-to-Release" by Hannes Mikula, TU Vienna "Flash nanoprecipitation: a versatile platform for multifunctional nanocarriers" by Carolin Tetyczka, RCPE "LNP production for mRNA vaccines, therapeutics and gene editing - proof of concept for a versatile process" by Andreas Wagner, Polymun “PHOENIX-OITB: A Single Entry Point to develop and upgrade innovative nanopharmaceuticals” by Johanna K. Scheper, BNN “Cluster decorated functional DNA origami based biosensor: Towards safe nano-innovations” by Susanne Resch, BNN A big thanks goes to the conference organizers, first and foremost Beat Löffler, for hosting an exceptional event and congratulations to all the presenters for their outstanding contributions to the world of clinical nanomedicine. With the momentum of CLINAM 2023, let's embark on another year of discovery, collaboration and innovation and shape the future of healthcare with one nanomedical breakthrough after another. www.clinam.org QUARTERLY ISSUE 04/2023

Contact Susanne Resch BioNanoNet Forschungsgesellschaft mbH susanne.resch@bnn.at www.bnn.at www.nanomedicine-austria.at

PHOENIX project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and Innovation programme under grant agreement n° 953110. www.phoenix-oitb.eu

DeDNAed project has received funding from the European Union’s HORIZON 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement n° 964248. www.dednaed.eu

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HTS Establishes First Austrian Biotech Summit in Graz This October, BioNanoNet Association member Human.Technology Styria (HTS) made waves with the success of the first Biotech Summit Austria, held from Oct 12-13 in Graz. Organized jointly with BIOTECH AUSTRIA, the event brought companies, research institutes and investors from the biotech scene to the Med Uni Graz Aula for two days of intensive presentations and networking. Students were offered free access to the job board and career sessions, and start-ups had the opportunity to present themselves and establish contacts with investors in the “start-up corner”. In the evening of Oct 12, participants headed to Dom im Berg to continue the networking underground. BNN was pleased to attend this groundbreaking event along with other BioNanoNet Association members such as BRAVE Analytics GmbH, JOANNEUM RESEARCH Forschungsgesellschaft mbH and acib GmbH. We look forward to the 2nd edition that will take place in Innsbruck, make a note for 10-11 October 2024!

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BNN NEWS

SusChem-AT Focusday 2023: “Green Chemical Engineering – Get It Started” On November 6th, 2023, the National Technology Platform for Sustainable Chemistry – SusChemAT organized an event at the Vienna University of Technology (TU Wien), focused on kick-starting the topic of “Green Chemical Engineering” in Austria. For the host organization, Marko Mihovilovic, dean of the Faculty of Technical Chemistry and member of SusChem-AT board, set the tone for the day with his call to action: 'Move from chemistry – the problem maker, to chemistry – the problem solver.' The first session of the event explored ongoing development efforts and public as well as private initiatives in Austria within the realm of 'Sustainable Chemistry', while the second session was dedicated to the 'Importance

of the Application of Green Chemical Engineering,' featuring experts from the local and international industrial community. Thomas Jakl, representing the Austrian Federal Ministry on Climate Action, E nvironment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology (BMK), emphasized the need for p olicymakers to ensure that sustainable solutions are e conomically viable choices for companies. Like many other speakers during the day, he h ighlighted the importance of raising awareness about the circular e conomy, not just within the industrial sector, but throughout society. Bettina Mihalyi-Schneider (chair of SusChem-AT) and Michael Harasek, both from TU Wien, along with Patrick Pammer (chair of SusChem-AT) from Competence Center CHASE

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GmbH, shared their p erspectives on green chemical engineering. All of them e mphasized that the mindset that guides how business is conducted in the chemical industry needs to change, with the overarching objective of maximizing resource use efficiency. While the transition p athway of chemical industry (ChemTP) s tresses transitioning from c urrent industrial energy demands to green e nergy, it's essential to go beyond energy, and implement cutting-edge technologies for more sustainable processes. The toolbox of green chemical e ngineering enables the reduction or e limination of h azardous ch emicals or p rocesses, pollution avoidance, waste reduction, and the promotion of circularity. Additionally, process improvements are attainable through p rocess intensification m ethods, with speakers a ccentuating the importance of utilizing digital technologies. The morning session concluded with Jens Schneider, the rector of TU Wien, highlighting that achieving sustainability requires a deep technical understanding. He pointed out the role of universities as hubs of knowledge and emphasized the value of involving students when academic scientists meet with industry representatives. A thought-provoking topic during the afternoon session revolved around the Collingridge dilemma, as succinctly summarized by David Collingridge: when change is easy, the need for it cannot be foreseen; but when the need for change becomes apparent, change has already become expensive, difficult, and time-consuming. Speakers of this session, including Mahshid Sotoudeh (Austrian Academy of Sciences), Edgar Ahn (BDI-BioEnergy International GmbH, chair

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of SusChem-AT), Stephan Roest (Borealis), Robert Wutti (VTU), and Peter Pöchlauer (Patheon, part of Thermo Fisher Scientific), all touched upon this dilemma in various ways, emphasizing the need for foresight and a daptability in the face of evolving challenges. From an industrial perspective, the i mportance of regulations in setting high standards for safety and sustainability was a significant point of discussion. While it is a greed that stringent regulations are n ecessary, it was also e mphasized that they need to be well-thought-out to prevent the risk of deindustrialization in Europe. The adoption of technology, whether green or not, takes time, and companies must see e conomic value in improving their p rocesses. It was a cknowledged that in some cases, immediately aiming for maximum standards might be counterproductive. For instance, while green hydrogen is currently not economically viable, low carbon hydrogen represents a promising intermediate solution. The most important point raised during the meeting was the urgent need for groundbreaking examples (‘lighthouses’) to guide the way towards green chemical e ngineering which are possible to be implemented by the Austrian community. There is a s pecific need of support initiated/offered by p ublic a uthority in terms of putting resources s ystematically on this important topic. In a ddition to this, collecting existing best practice cases that showcase how individual companies interpret and implement green chemical e ngineering can complement those g overnmental efforts and will boost the progress towards the systems-change in the entire industry. Furthermore, visualization of the effect of

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green chemical engineering is e ssential to generate tailwind for these a ctivities. This needs to be based on clear success indicators established for these examples. Mahshid Sotoudeh (Austrian Academy of S ciences) highlighted the influence of m egatrends on decision-making. She stressed the significance of engineers considering societal technical readiness levels when developing new products. If society doesn't grasp the value of new sustainable technologies, they may not be willing to invest in them. Therefore, it's essential to closely listen to and involve society in the development of new technologies. In closing, it is essential to emphasize that sustainability isn't a responsibility to be shouldered solely by industry or public authorities. The entire society must be a ctively engaged in this endeavor. Just as the chemical industry leverages its lighthouses

SusChem-AT Focusday 2023: “Green Chemical Engineering – Get It Started”

to steer the transformation toward green chemical e ngineering, the broader civil society can draw inspiration from positive examples of sustainability. This is why we take pride in the recognition from the Austrian Federal M inistry on Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology (BMK), which have awarded the event by the Austrian Ecolabel “Green Meeting” certificate in terms of content and organization.

Advancing the concept of Safeand-Sustainable-by-Design BNN recently engaged in advancing the concept of Safe-and-Sustainable-by-Design (SSbD) via two key events aimed at sharing knowledge, fostering collaboration and supporting the ongoing development of the SSbD framework. In October, the first SSbD Boot Camp took p lace in Ispra, Italy. This event provided a p latform for stakeholders to delve into practical aspects of implementing SSbD, p otentially discussing challenges and best practices. In addition to presentations by experts on the 5 steps of the SSbD framework, participants were asked to roll up their s leeves in s everal break-out sessions. The break-out group d iscussions on specific cases provided a great opportunity to delve deeper into the topic and learn about

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possible difficulties and shortcomings in each SSbD step. S usanne Resch and Clemens Wolf from BNN enjoyed the discussions on how to further support the refinement of the SSbD framework and make it more applicable also in early innovation stages. A big thank you goes to the colleagues from the Joint Research Centre of the E uropean Commission who put a lot of effort into organizing the Boot Camp. In December, participants from across Europe,

BNN RETROSPECT

among them Julia Voglhuber-Höller from BNN, convened for the 4th Stakeholders Workshop on SSbD at the European Commission’s conference center in Brussels, Belgium. The primary focus was to discuss the SSbD framework published in 2022 by the Joint Research Centre of the European C ommission, along with its accompanying d ocuments after the 1st reporting period. The objective was to critically assess the existing framework and identify areas that require a ttention in the upcoming revision phase. The collaborative spirit among participants was captivating, and the shared goal of fostering a stage for safer and more sustainable innovation was evident. During the workshop break-out sessions were held, during which participants worked collectively to elaborate on details and contribute to the evolution of the SSbD framework, discussing its c hallenges but also opportunities. A highlight of the workshop was the discussion of conducted case studies,

©EC JRC

which provided practical insights into areas that demand additional attention for successful and widespread implementation of the SSbD concept. We are looking forward to the outcome of the upcoming testing period with another open call for case study submission and are excited to contribute to the continuous refinement and application of the SSbD framework within our projects and alongside the European Commission.

Contact Susanne Resch susanne.resch@bnn.at www.bnn.at

©BNN

©EC JRC

FOCUS TOPIC OF THIS ISSUE:

Innovation in Nanomedicine: Chances for Strengthening the Field CONTRIBUTION FROM NANOMEDICINE-AUSTRIA

Technology Platform: NanoMedicine-Austria Technology platforms can help solve scientific and technological challenges by bringing together and preferably uniting industry, academia, and government. Strategic research a gendas need to be defined, competitiveness strengthened, and research and innovation promoted. The technology platform NanoMedicine-Austria (NM-AT) links the Austrian research, development and innovation players in the field of nanomedicine. It thus forms the elementary platform for nanomedicine innovations in Austria and their technical implementation from the laboratory to the market.

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We sat down with the co-chairs of NanoMedicine-Austria, Daniel Baumgarten (UMIT Tirol GmbH), Ramona Jeitler (University of Graz), Thomas Mohr (ScienceConsult – DI Thomas Mohr KG) and Sebastian Schwaminger (Medical University of Graz) as well as NM-AT coordinator Susanne Resch (BNN) to learn more about the Initiative. Tell us a little bit about the NM-AT platform and its structure: DB: NM-AT is an open platform that brings together bio- and nanomedical experts to promote science and research in this field. Its mission is to build references on Austria’s nanomedical research and innovation capability, and to achieve joint impact through community-driven activities. RJ: One discipline alone cannot solve all the healthcare challenges. Within NM-AT we have all the different disciplines working together. By including for example simulation and predictive modeling experts, but also physicists, you can get a better idea of your nanomanufacturing processes. Bringing t hese disciplines together can solve problems. What is the motivation and the mission behind these activities? What kind of impact can this platform have? TM: At NM-AT, we want to tackle medical

challenges to achieve more efficient and affordable healthcare, as well as new solutions to improve medical treatments. We support the Austrian nanomedical community and link it to European and global initiatives, f acilitating access to national and international research projects and funding, and creating synergies through multidisciplinary cooperation. RJ: By connecting experts in the nanomedical field, we on the one hand contribute to a b etter understanding of biological processes in the human body at the molecular and nanometric level. On the other hand, we also try to c onnect these experts with those from industry to allow large-scale manufacturing production of efficient and safe nanopharmaceuticals. SR: In addition, NM-AT through its experts such as us at BNN provides support in nanosafety and sustainability issues, as well as regulatory support.

You mentioned tackling medical challenges. How can the general public benefit from the work conducted by NanoMedicine-Austria? SS: Nanomedicine improves patient outcomes through improved therapies (when researchers collaborate). But beyond that, nanomedicine sees startups and SMEs developing new formulation strategies. When these companies have opportunities, this also improves the e conomy in Austria, which b enefits the general public. Thus, we are improving outcomes not only for the patient but the whole industry behind nanomedicine. This sounds really promising! Now, nanomedicine is a broad field. Does NM-AT have a specific focus? TM: We align ourselves with the e xpertise of our chairs and members. At the moment, we are addressing the typical pillars as defined by the ETPN (diagnostics, m edical imaging, nanotherapeutics, regenerative medicine as well as vaccines), as well as horizontal, complementary topics such as standardization, manufacturing of nanoproducts, bioinformatics, analytics of nanomaterials and targeted drug delivery. RJ:

For

example,

one

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focus

n anomanufacturing – by understanding the processing units in the production of nanomaterials, nanopharmaceuticals can be manufactured in a more robust and reproducible way. By precisely controlling the process, also the nano-bio-interactions can be controlled better. We always couple experimental data with simulation studies – i.e. predictive modeling – to understand the particle formation during the process. We also study the structural arrangement of different components within nano-drug delivery systems and their impact on tissue interactions. SS: On the materials side, we focus on the development of drug delivery systems. This is where my work meets the work of Ramona Jeitler, for example. We develop n ovel materials and particles for drug delivery, and test different properties from these materials. We benefit from the nanomanufacturing, knowing how the process can improve these materials’ properties. That helps us f ormulate new nanomaterials for medical devices and therapeutics, as well as diagnostic a pproaches. DM: My research area goes in the direction of imaging: we study how nanoscale materials can improve imaging processes. 29

Tell us about some of the activities of the platform.

utside Austria as well, to reach our shared o goals.

SR: We are active with contributions to conferences such as BioNanoMed in Graz, CLINAM in Basel or the BioNanoNet Annual Forum. We have also organized webinars for the nanomedicine community in Austria and beyond.

Last but not least: Where can interested parties get even more information and who can they contact if they want to get involved?

RJ: We also collaborate on research and joint publications such as this year’s publications in Nanomaterials and in Heliyon. SS: Recently, together with Ramona Jeitler and Thomas Mohr, we were awarded a new project with partners in Bulgaria on the d evelopment and biological charaterization of nanoscale drug delivery systems for the incorporation of multidrug-resistant RNA constructs. If you had a vision for the p latform, what would it look like? SR: The aim of NM-AT is to make nano-m edicine visible in Austria, and create awareness of the existing competencies in the field. We want to support the nanomedicine community and create impact together, ultimately for new or optimized healthcare solutions for patients. SS: In fact, we are already doing it – bringing together the best researchers in Austria to truly improve the development of n ovel nanomedical technologies. We would like to establish Austria as a country where nanomedicine and novel therapies are at the top of their fields. RJ: NM-AT provides a channel to connect with others and share interests and expertise to perform good science. We hope to continue this in the future and connect with others

SR: Feel free to browse our website www.nanomedicine-austria.at and if you have any questions at all, reach out to our team at office@nanomedicine-austria.at and we will respond as soon as we can. Thank you for the interesting insight! SR: Thank you for the invitation!

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BioNanoNet Members and Partners found PHOENIX OITB gGmbH to Support Innovation in Nano-pharmaceutical Development A new company has been founded to (CSIC), both from Spain, are slated to join as provide much-needed support to industry, founders in the new year. SMEs, startups and researchers developing BioNanoNet Association members Institute nano-pharmaceuticals. PHOENIX OITB for Medical Research and Occupational gGmbH, founded in November 2023, offers Health (IMI) and RECENDT will offer services an “all-in-one” single-entry-point to users, within the single-entry-point. The company is providing characterization, in vitro and in h eadquartered in Überherrn, Germany. vivo testing, up-scaling, manufacturing, and consulting services including innovation- With a strong vision to remove barriers to nano related aspects, like regulatory guidance pharmaceutical innovation, PHOENIX offers and business to accelerate maturity of nano- affordable and easy access to a c onsolidated pharmaceuticals and diagnostic agents. Along network of facilities, technologies, services with BNN, BioNanoNet Association members and expertise from across E urope for all MyBiotech (MyB), Research Center Pharma- the technology transfer aspects from ceutical Engineering GmbH (RCPE), Nanomol characterization, in vitro and in vivo testing, Technologies (NT) and Luxembourg Institute validation up to scale-up, GMP compliant of Science and Technology (LIST) are among manufacturing and regulatory guidance. the founding partners of the PHOENIX OITB Customers contacting the PHOENIX singlegGmbH, the single-entry-point of the P hoenix entry-point will be matched with a dedicated Open Innovation Test Bed (OITB). LeanBio S.L. contact person to evaluate their needs. The and the Higher Council for Scientific R esearch

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the single-entry-point power and dynamism increasing its value on the market. PHOENIX single-entry-point portfolio is continuously updated based on customer and market needs. A full description of comprehensive services will be located on the website of the single-entry-point, launching in 2024.

customer will then be matched with relevant experts providing the desired services and obtain a comprehensive plan of services. The PHOENIX network covers the entire supply chain from bench to bedside, as well as broad range of administration routes. Available services are categorised within physico-chemical characterisation, in v itro characterisation, in vivo characterisation, GMP manufacturing and innovation. The broad network covers the whole value chain with complementary/synergistic expertise from R&D till GMP. The short decision-making process and high degree of flexibility t ogether with the top-tier expertise and experience give

To launch the PHOENIX Single-Entry- Point, MyB and BNN developed the business concept and overall sustainability during the first year of the EU-funded project PHOENIX. BNN also leads the communication activities for the project and the single-entry-point, and establishes connections with all relevant stakeholders. During the project lifetime NT and MyB establish the quality management system of the single-entry-point to ensure standardised and high-quality services to its end users. For PHOENIX customers, BNN offers se rvices in Safe-and-Sustainable-by-Design and Regulation, advising end users how to choose materials and processes that will have the least harm on humans and the environment, and how to succeed in regulatory affairs and reach clinics and the market. MyB offers GMP production of nanopharmaceuticals, and all related services including technology and method transfer, scale-up and GMP compliance. NT offers GMP compliant particle characterization and all around nano-pharmaceuticals f ormulation development. Synergistically, MyB and NT respond to the need of obtaining high q uality and quantity nanopharmaceuticals by offering their end formulation and scale-up expertise, as well as key enabling t echnologies adaptable to customer needs to achieve industrial-scale production.

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RCPE has developed a multiscale simulation framework for nanoparticle production processes. This framework is utilised as a digital simulation tool for process design, scale-up or optimisation. LIST provides services and expertise for the in vitro safety of nano-drugs for a broad range of nano-pharmaceuticals and administration routes.

Contact Dr. Nazende Günday-Türeli, CEO PHOENIX-OITB SEP n.guenday-tuereli@phoenix-sep.com

IMI together with BNN establish and run the Regulatory Support Department, which will offer regulatory support to end-users to eliminate “non-necessary” testing as well as to ensure “certainty” about regulatory compliance of nano-pharmaceuticals u nder development. The regulatory team will a nalyse the guidelines and legislation to help the customer in determining any additional testing needed, studies or documents that might be required prior to initiating clinical trials (including briefing meetings preparation and/or preparation of documentation and meetings for the scientific advice, orphan drug designation, etc.). RECENDT focuses on the application of process-analytical technologies (PAT), providing the development and application of novel and customized solutions for PAT in nano-pharmaceutical production. The PHOENIX-OITB gGmbH originates from the business development plan of the PHOENIX project funded in 2021 by the European Union under the Industrial Leadership Programme (GA 953110). Our website and full launch follow in the new year. Be the first to find out more about this exciting new company by signing up for our newsletter here!

QUARTERLY ISSUE 04/2023

FOCUS TOPIC

Antimicrobial Peptide Delivery Through Magnetic Nanoparticles In the development of medications and the targeted release of active substances, the use of nanotechnology offers numerous new possibilities. An interesting innovation in this regard is the use of iron oxide nanoparticles coated with a special layer. This enables a ctive substances to be safely and directly delivered to the affected cells. An international team of researchers, recently published its research findings, drawing attention to potential a pplications in the treatment of infections or in cancer therapy.

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are natural substances that are able to interact with cell membranes and thereby lyse bacterial cells. They could be used, for example, in the treatment of bacterial infections, as they have the advantage over conventional antibiotics of reducing the development of antibiotic resistance. However, the reason why AMPs cannot be easily used lies in the fact that some AMPs, in their properties, can be harmful not only to bacterial cells but also to human cells, limiting their current applicability.

Active substances protected and delivered in the battle against antibiotic-resistant b acteria (https://doi.org/10.3390/i jms241914649)

In a recent study, we demonstrated how nanotechnology can enable the widespread use of AMPs. In particular, the AMP L asioglosin

FOCUS TOPIC

III (LL) was used because of its a ntimicrobial properties (https://doi.org/10.3390/ ijms241914649). Magnetic remote control delivers the drug directly to the site of action. The iron oxide nanoparticles developed by the researchers are coated with a supramolecular ureido-pyrimidinone layer, which e nhances the antimicrobial activity of the peptide. In supramolecular coating, large m olecules interlock and thus stabilize each other. Moreover, magnetic manipulation enables the particles to be controlled by magnetism through the iron oxide, allowing the drug release to occur exactly where it is needed. This innovation is associated with several a dvantages for patients: •

Reduction of the dosage of AMPs, thereby reducing the risk of side effects

•

Targeted drug delivery to the site of infection or disease

•

Improved safety by combining nanoparticles with AMPs, reducing toxicity to human cells

Contact Sebastian Schwaminger Medical University of Graz sebastian.schwaminger@medunigraz.at www.medunigraz.at

It has been demonstrated that the particles are effective against both cancer cells and microorganisms (bacteria). The next step in the development of these innovative materials is testing in the laboratory model before implementation for therapeutic purposes can take place.

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International Consortium Drives Innovations in Nanopharmaceutical Manufacturing

Nanopharmaceuticals play a crucial role in modern medicine, providing a platform to encapsulate and protect drugs during d elivery. Current nanomanufacturing p rocesses, characterized by time-consuming batch m ethods, present challenges in scalability and control during the shift from lab to large-scale production. This transition may impact physicochemical properties, affecting nano pharmaceutical safety and efficacy. The NanoFacT project addresses these challenges by establishing a robust, scalable nanomanufacturing platform that integrates bottom-up and top-down technologies. The initiative aims to facilitate continuous, high-yield, and controllable production of nanomedicines, with a specific emphasis on

l ipid-based nanosystems. GMP-compliant processes, equipped with advanced a nalytical technologies, seek precise control over physicochemical properties. The incorporation of Quality by Design principles and the development of a proof-ofconcept prototype for a flexible continuous production line at the laboratory scale holds promise for transformative outcomes in nanopharmaceutical production.

Strategic Alliances for Nanopharmaceutical Advancements Recognizing the intricate nature of a dvancing nanopharmaceutical manufacturing,

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collaborative efforts are pivotal. The NanoFacT project strategically aligns with the European Consortium for Continuous Pharmaceutical Manufacturing (ECCPM), led by RCPE. This collaborative initiative aims to harness the combined strengths of NanoFacT and ECCPM, pooling resources and expertise to navigate the complexities of advancing nanopharmaceutical manufacturing. With a shared vision, the consortium, including influential entities such as G attefossé, InProcess-LSP, Knauer, Microfluidics, Skyepharma, and the University of Graz, is poised to contribute significantly to the field. Within the project, the consortium will generate and disseminate fundamental knowledge by converging industry-leading capabilities in (pharmaceutical) engineering, material science, and innovative process a nalytical technologies to create a flexible, modular toolkit and manufacturing platform.

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Innovative Solutions for Streamlining Nanopharmaceutical Production Over the past decades, nanomedicines and nanoparticles have emerged as promising therapeutic/diagnostic agents and p owerful drug delivery tools. Still, the complexity of manufacturing processes has inevitably limited their actual impact. “We manufacture nanopharmaceuticals in time-consuming, difficult-to-control batch processes,” said Univ.-Prof. Dr. Eva Roblegg, Key Researcher for NanoFacT, “The need to integrate p reviously isolated unit operations into seamless, GMPcompliant platforms is evident. Even more so, it is a prerequisite to keep pace with m edical progress and provide patients with the best possible treatment.” The principal lack of understanding of process parameters and material attributes has made the transition from successful lab-scale synthesis to industrial-relevant production environments

NanoFacT Consortium 3 7 © RCPE

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unnecessarily challenging.

Contact

The consortium partners aim to develop scalable and versatile continuous manufacturing platforms for n anopharmaceuticals. “We’re essentially enriching proven solutions with advanced a nalytical technologies and a rational, science-based approach to process and p roduct design,” explains Dr. Carolin Tetyczka, one of NanoFacT’s Project Leaders. These new production platforms will allow the exact a djustment and monitoring of physicochemical properties, achieving b etter product quality with faster product release with b eneficial process economics. Individual GMPcompliant and scalable p rocesses (i.e., (high) shear mixing, Microfluidizer® Processing and impingement jet mixing) will be e quipped with process a nalytical technologies, such as spatially resolved dynamic light scattering (SR-DLS) for inline p article size measurement, electrophoretic light scattering for zeta p otential m onitoring, and spectroscopic m ethods to ensure drug e ncapsulation and achieve product and process m onitoring. An attempt to link and centralize the control logic of individual units (e.g., pumps, a ctuators, and PAT tools) will be made. In addition, multidisciplinary a pproaches of Quality by Design (QbD) to determine processand product-critical parameters will be established. Suitable individual processes will then be linked to create a proof-of-concept prototype of a flexible continuous production line at laboratory scale.

Project lead

Learn more about the project NanoFacT.

Dr. Carolin Tetyczka RCPE GmbH carolin.tetyczka@rcpe.at

Press contact Mag. Claudia Pock RCPE GmbH claudia.pock@rcpe.at www.rcpe.at

P O L Y M E R C H E M I S T R Y A N D B I O M AT E R I A L S G R O U P – G H E N T UNIVERSITY, BELGIUM

Multiphoton Lithography as a Promising Tool Serving Biomedical Applications Multiphoton lithography (MPL) is a p owerful and useful manufacturing tool capable of generating two- and three- dimensional a rbitrary micro- and nanometer structures of various materials with high s patial resolution down to below 100 nm. This technology has received tremendous interest in tissue engineering and medical device manufacturing, due to its ability to print sophisticated structures, which is difficult to achieve through traditional printing methods.

Tool for Biomedical Applications” p ublished in Advanced Functional Materials in 2023, an overview is given of recent a dvances in the biomedical field, focusing on a pplied photoinitiators, biomaterials and biomedical applications. This article offers a h elicopter view on the use of 2PP technology in the biomedical field and defines the n ecessary considerations t owards selection or d esign of photoinitiators and photoreactive b iomaterials to serve a multitude of biomedical a pplications.

In our recent review paper entitled “ Multiphoton Lithography as a Promising

QUARTERLY ISSUE 04/2023

FOCUS TOPIC

Applications MPL emerges as a versatile technology enabling the fabrication of complex 3D structures serving tissue engineering, organ-on-chip devices, and advanced therapies like photodynamic therapy. In the field of tissue engineering, MPL is a game-changer since it enables the creation of complex 3D structures down to n anometer resolution, which is vital for mimicking natural tissues. This has profound implications for the development of artificial organs, w here the ability to replicate intricate biological structures is paramount. Moreover, MPL's influence extends to the burgeoning field of organoids, allowing researchers to create more realistic and functional models of organs for experimental purposes. Organ-on-chip devices, another a pplication area benefiting from MPL technology, are crucial for simulating organ-level functions in a controlled environment. The precision offered by MPL in crafting these devices enhances their effectiveness, rendering them valuable tools for drug testing and disease modeling. Furthermore, MPL is making s trides in a dvanced therapeutic approaches, such as photodynamic therapy, showcasing its p otential in pushing the boundaries of m edical treatment. The broad scope of MPL's a pplications underscores its significance in driving innovation in biomedical research and practice. Its a daptability not only allows for the c ustomization of 3D polymer constructs (covering a broad range of mechanical properties) but also empowers researchers to engineer diverse and intricate structu-

res tailored to specific biomedical needs. As a result, MPL stands at the forefront of technologies poised to reshape the landscape of biomedical sciences, offering new avenues for exploration and breakthroughs in fields ranging from tissue engineering to advanced therapeutic interventions. Read the article here.

Contact Sandra Van Vlierberghe Polymer Chemistry and Biomaterials Group – Ghent University, Belgium BIO INX BV – Ghent, Belgium sandra.vanvlierberghe@ugent.be www.ugent.be

Member Updates

M E M B E R U P D AT E S

P o l y m e r C h e m i s tr y a n d B i o m a t e r i a l s G ro u p – G h e n t U n i v e r s i t y, B e l g i u m

Member Presentation of “Polymer Chemistry & Biomaterials Group” The Polymer Chemistry & Biomaterials Group at Ghent University is active in the d evelopment of polymers for mainly biomedical applications including tissue engineering (a.o. orthopaedic, o cular, adipose, cardiovascular, meniscus, etc.), drug delivery, wound healing, on-chip a pplications, etc. The main research pillars are focusing on polymer synthesis, f unctionalization, processing and characterization of the polymers as well as the processed structures. Both synthetic and natural polymers are studied (respectively polyesters, polyethers, etc. versus proteins, polysaccharides, etc.). Specific expertise includes the functionalization of polymers with (photo-)crosslinkable moieties. In addition to (core-shell) electrospinning, a plethora of 3D-printing equipment is available which includes light-based 3D-printing (stereolithography, digital light projection, two-photon polymerization, volumetric additive manufacturing) and extrusion-based 3D-printing (filaments, polymer pellets and hydrogel solutions – in combination with cell encapsulation for the latter, cfr. bioprinting). In addition to polymer development capabilities and facilities, the research group has also been focusing heavily on the surface modification of existing and novel materials. 42

MEMBER INTERVIEW

Member Interview with Sandra van Vlierberghe from the Polymer Chemistry & Biomaterials Group, University of Ghent Why did you decide to become a BioNanoNet member and what do you expect from the membership? I was invited to attend a BioNanoNet event, the Annual Meeting, and I observed that it forms a multidisciplinary community offering interesting expertise in the fields of regenerative medicine and biotechnology. Furthermore, it is an active community which is well organized and in which n etworking is a ctively stimulated. I expect from my m embership that I will be able to expand my network and that I will become a ctively informed on relevant funding o pportunities. Furthermore, the BioNanoNet team can also offer advice regarding spin-off creation. Sustainability is a core value of BNN. What strategies have you implemented to improve your organization’s sustainability?

QUARTERLY ISSUE 04/2023

We actively work on biodegradable (environmentally benign) polymers serving tissue engineering applications. F urthermore, we also strive towards a collaborative, pleasant and constructive working atmosphere respecting work-life balance for our team members. Finally, we have valorization a ctivities as reflected by our spin-off activities where we commercialize bioinks (BIO INX). As a result, we focus on sustainability while considering all 3 Ps (Planet, People, Profit). Our Focus Topic of this issue is “Innovation in Nanomedicine: Chances for Strengthening the Field”. Does the Polymer Chemistry & Biomaterials Group address nanomedicine? Yes, we create in vitro models for drug screening exploiting two-photon p olymerization (2PP) 3D-printing, among others. We also develop polymeric nanoparticles and nanovesicles for smart drug delivery. This research line

M E M B E R U P D AT E S

is coordinated by Dr. Kristyna K olouchova, who is a post-doctoral fellow from Research Foundation Flanders (FWO), active in my group. I am very grateful to her for having introduced this research line within the Polymer Chemistry & Biomaterials Group.

and colleagues as well as related to my role as scientific advisor of spin-offs BIO INX and 4Tissue. On Tuesday afternoons, I also teach the students of 1st Ma Chemistry and on Friday mornings the 3rd Ba Biomedical Engineering. What’s the best aspect of your job?

What

led

you

your

profession?

My master thesis supervisor, Prof. Etienne Schacht (Ghent University), invited me to start a PhD and afterwards a postdoc (although that was not planned when I initiated my b achelor studies at Ghent University). During my p ost-doc, I had the opportunity to work with Prof. Peter Dubruel (Ghent University) who gave me complete free dom/’carte blanche’ to write project grants and supervise master and PhD students. The appreciation from PhD students and the pleasure of h aving worked with many different personalities and seeing them positively evolve in terms of skills set and maturity made me realize that I w anted to continue on this road throughout my p rofessional career. What does your typical workday look like? Generally, I have 1-2 follow-up meetings with a PhD student or post-doc from my team to discuss their progress and initiate s uggestions for forthcoming research. In addition, I have 1 project meeting with (international) colleagues involved in a joint project. I spend some time in correcting/revising a m anuscript or a PhD chapter. I attend a meeting with a company to discuss progress of an o ngoing project or to initiate a new project. I take care of a dministrative tasks and/or scientific outreach and I answer emails from students

Versatility – every day is different: teaching, supervising PhDs, project meetings with c ompanies and international colleagues, s pin-off activities, etc What would you advise a young person considering working in your field? Identify your niche domain/unique expertise, always be honest, never make enemies, be perseverant and believe in your own talent/skills. Who are people in your field that inspire you? For example, Nicholas A. Peppas, Professor & Director of the Institute for Biomaterials, Drug Delivery and Regenerative Medicine at the University of Texas at Austin, Biomedical Engineering, Cockrell School of Engineering.

5-second answers What was your dream job when you were a kid? Food consultant If you could study anything (new) right now, what would it be? Chemistry… again Office, home office or hybrid? Hybrid Which book have you most enjoyed reading lately? The Beast by Faye Kellerman If you could make any activity an Olympic discipline, in which would you win a medal? Multitasking / efficiency What is your motto? Never have regrets!

Contact Sandra Van Vlierberghe Polymer Chemistry & Biomaterials Group Sandra.Vanvlierberghe@UGent.be https://pbmugent.eu

QUARTERLY ISSUE 04/2023

JOANNEUM RESEARCH

Green and Digital Transformation: Wrap-up Zukunftskonferenz 2023 The digital transformation is not only changing our lives, but also has great p otential to shape a more sustainable future. Digital technologies enable us to rethink traditional working methods and processes, boost innovation and develop alternatives. Against this backdrop, around 650 interested persons met at Messe Congress in Graz for this year's JOANNEUM RESEARCH Future Conference and Exhibition (Zukunftskonferenz). The green and digital transformation is inevitable. In order to remain globally competitive, it is important to strengthen our region through future-relevant innovations. Putting innovations into practice and thus generating tangible added value for the economy and society works best in an agile network such as the one in which JOANNEUM RESEARCH operates. Cooperation b etween business and science leads to success: this is demonstrated by the 4 top-ranked sessions, the best performance projects and in the exhibition of the 7 research units.

Heinz Mayer, Managing Director of JOANNEUM RESEARCH, on the role of the research company in the twin transition process: "Digitalization plays a key role in our business areas of health and care, mobility, politics and society, production and manufacturing, security and defence, environment and sustainability as well as space, and it is driving sustainable ecological effects in many areas. Without the support of digital technologies, there can be no green t ransformation." Read the whole article on the BNN website.

QUARTERLY ISSUE 04/2023

MYBIOTECH

GreenX3: Innovative and Sustainable Materials, Processes and Technologies for a GREENer and Circular Economy

GreenX3 is funded by the European Union Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie Action Doctoral Network Industrial Doctorate (MSCA-DN-ID) program and by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) under the UK government’s Horizon Europe funding guarantee. The project, coordinated by Dr. Nazende Günday- Türeli MyBiotech, started in September 2023 and will last for 48 months. GreenX3 offers a unique opportunity to train 13 d octoral candidates and doctoral network candidates in innovative and sustainable materials, processes and technologies for a GREENer and circular economy. The network comprises 6 b eneficiary partners (including BioNanoNet member Nanomol Technologies) and 10 associated partners from industrial and academic sectors, from Germany, Spain, France, Italy and UK. Read the whole article on the BNN website

This project GreenX3 is funded by the European Union Horizon Europe MSCA Doctoral Network programme under EC Grant Agreement 101120061 and by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) under the UK government’s Horizon Europe funding guarantee [grant number EP/Y032039/1]. 48

M E M B E R U P D AT E S

Intestinal microbes (symbolic representation) Image source: Adobe Stock/Ruslan Batiuk

GRAZ UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY

Researchers at TU Graz Decipher Enzyme Scissors of Intestinal Microbes Flavonoids & Co: Microorganisms in the human gut utilize so-called beta- elimination to break down plant natural products and thus make them available to humans. Fruit and vegetables contain a variety of plant natural products such as flavonoids, which give fruits their colour and are said to have health-promoting properties. Most plant natural products occur in nature as glycosides, i.e. chemical compounds with sugars. In order for humans to absorb the healthy plant natural products, the sugar must be split off in the intestine. M icroorganisms in the intestinal flora help to speed up the process. So-called C-glycosides, i.e. plant natural products with a carbon-based bond to a sugar, would even be practically in digestible without the intestinal microbes (e.g. nothofagin in rooibos tea). A research team led by Johannes Bitter, Martin Pfeiffer and Bernd Nidetzky from the Institute of Biotechnology and Biochemical Engineering at Graz University of Technology (TU Graz) has now been able to determine which tool the intestinal bacteria use to cleave glycosides and how it works.

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Publication: Enzymatic β-elimination in natural product O- and C-glycoside deglycosylation. Nature Communications 14, 7123 (2023). Authors: Johannes Bitter, Martin Pfeiffer, Annika J. E. Borg, Kirill Kuhlmann, Tea Pavkov-Keller, Pedro A. Sánchez-Murcia & Bernd Nidetzky, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-42750-0 Read the whole article on the BNN website

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UNIVERSITY OF GHENT / BIO INX

ASTROCARDIA: Sending Miniature Hearts to Space for Investigation of Accelerated Cardiac Aging

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain the leading cause of mortality globally, with age-related changes in heart function significantly amplifying the risk and limiting functional capacity.

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espite this, the precise triggers behind age-related CVDs remain unknown. An adequate D human-derived model for studying cardiac ageing is yet to be established. Research suggests that exposure to the space environment triggers accelerated cardiac ageing, leading to various heart conditions caused by radiation and microgravity-induced inflammation, DNA damage, senescence, and impaired DNA repair pathways. Although significant strides have been made in 3D bioprinting vascularized cardiac patches, heart organoids, and vascular beds on Earth, the exploration of 3D bioprinted heart tissue in space is still in its infancy. BIO INX, a spin-off company of Ghent University and Vrije Universiteit Brussel, is part of the ASTROCARDIA project, aiming to develop a human-derived vascularized heart-on-chip model for testing the influence of cardiac ageing in space. To this end, BIO INX is joining forces with four other Belgian partners, being SCK CEN, Space Applications Services, Quality by Design and Antleron.

Read the whole article on the BNN website

GRAZ UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY

Proven for the First Time: The Microbiome of Fruit and Vegetables Positively Influences Diversity in the Gut

In a meta-study, a research team from the Institute of Environmental Biotechnology at TU Graz has provided evidence that the consumption of fruit and vegetables contributes positively to bacterial diversity in the human gut. Fruit and vegetables contain a variety of plant natural products such as flavonoids, which give fruits their colour and are said to have health-promoting properties. Most plant natural products occur in nature as glycosides, i.e. chemical compounds with sugars. In order for humans to absorb the healthy plant natural products, the sugar must be split off in the intestine. Microorganisms in the intestinal flora help to speed up the process. So-called C-glycosides, i.e. plant natural products with a carbon-based bond to a sugar, would even be practically indigestible without the intestinal microbes (e.g. nothofagin in rooibos tea). A research team led by Johannes Bitter, Martin Pfeiffer and Bernd Nidetzky from the Institute of Biotechnology and Biochemical Engineering at Graz University of Technology (TU Graz) has now been able to d etermine which

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FOCUS TOPIC

tool the intestinal bacteria use to cleave glycosides and how it works. Bacterial diversity in the gut plays an important role in human health. The crucial question, h owever, is where are the sources of this diversity? It is known that an important part of the maternal microbiome is transferred to the baby at birth, and the same happens during the breastfeeding period via breast milk. Further sources were yet to be discovered. H owever, a team led by Wisnu Adi Wicaksono and Gabriele Berg from the Institute of Environmental Biotechnology at Graz University of Technology (TU Graz) has now succeeded in proving that plant microorganisms from fruit and vegetables contribute to the human microbiome. They report this in a study published in the journal Gut Microbes.

Recent Scientific Publications of our BioNanoNet Members BRAVE ANALYTICS Šimić, M., Neuper, C., Hohenester, U. & Hill, C. (2023). Optofluidic force induction as a process analytical technology. Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, Volume 415, Issue 21, Pages: 5181 – 5191. doi.org/10.1007%2Fs00216-023-04796-3 GRAZ UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY Wisnu Adi Wicaksono, Tomislav Cernava, Birgit Wassermann, Ahmed Abdelfattah, Maria J. Soto-Giron, Gerardo V. Toledo, Suvi M. Virtanen, Mikael Knip, Heikki Hyöty & Gabriele Berg (2023) The edible plant microbiome: evidence for the occurrence of fruit and vegetable b acteria in the human gut, Gut Microbes, 15:2. 10.1080/19490976.2023.2258565 Bitter, J., Pfeiffer, M., Borg, A.J.E. et al. Enzymatic β-elimination in natural product O- and C-glycoside deglycosylation. Nat Commun 14, 7123 (2023). doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-42750-0 HAHN-SCHICKARD Johannsen, B., Baumgartner, D., Karpíšek, M., Stejskal, D., Boillat-Blanco, N., Knüsli, J., Panning, M., Paust, N., Zengerle, R., Mitsakakis, K. Patient stratification for antibiotic prescriptions based on the bound-free phase detection immunoassay of C-reactive protein in serum samples. Biosensors 2023, 13, 1009. doi.org/10.3390/bios13121009 QUARTERLY ISSUE 04/2023

POLYMER CHEMISTRY AND BIOMATERIALS GROUP – GHENT UNIVERSITY Greant, C., Van Durme, B., Van Hoorick, J., Van Vlierberghe, S., Multiphoton Lithography as a Promising Tool for Biomedical Applications. Adv. Funct. Mater. 2023, 33, 2212641. doi.org/10.1002/adfm.202212641 WOOD K-PLUS Christoph Derflinger Birgit Kamm Gisa Meissner Hendrik Spod Christian Paulik, Development of a consolidated heterogeneous catalytic process for the selective oxidation of carbohydrate-derived 5 (hydroxymethyl)furfural for the industrial upscaling of 2,5 diformylfuran, Chemistry Select, 09.10.2023. doi.org/10.1002/slct.202302056 Franz Zeppetzauer, Raphaela Süss, Richard Nadányi, Robert F. Putz ,Anton Lisý, Christian Paulik,Igor Šurina, Petra Strižincová,Kateryna Huemer, Birgit Kamm, Environmentally F riendly Extraction from Picea Abies Bark as an Approach to Accessing Valuable Antioxidants in Biorefineries, Molecules, Processes 2023, 11(7), 2145. doi.org/10.3390/pr11072145 Christoph Derflinger, Birgit Kamm, Georg Leitner, Christian Paulik, Novel Synthesis strategy for the production of fully bio-based binders using, 2-5-diformylfuran, European Journal of Organic Chemistry, 26(23) 2023. doi.org/10.1002/ejoc.202300311

View all members’ publications sent to us from 2018 up to now here.

Project Presentations & Updates AdMa4Med Project Kicked Off On the 7th of November, the AdMa4Med consortium convened at the FFG m eeting center in Vienna to officially take up its collaborative efforts during the Kick-Off Meeting. The project's acronym e ncapsulates its primary focus: Advanced materials and Nanomaterials for Medical Applications. Advanced materials can refine and optimize medical applications and devices, thereby enhancing their efficacy and functionality; ultimately, contributing significantly to the advancement of patient care. However, the utilization of such advanced materials necessitates a nuanced approach that addresses potential associated risks. To ensure a predominantly beneficial outcome for both human health and the environment, it is imperative to implement and monitor appropriately tailored regulations. In light of this, BNN,

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in collaboration with partners J OANNEUM RESEARCH HEALTH and Phornano, joined forces to address open questions and conduct practical assessments through exemplary case studies. The AdMa4Med project is supported by the Federal Ministry of the Republic of Austria for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, M obility, Innovation and Technology (BMK), serving as the funding body, with the FFG acting as an intermediary. The primary objectives of the consortium encompass the identification of the relevance of the Medical Device R egulation (MDR) for specific advanced materials, an investigation into the safety and sustainability of selected advanced materials in medical devices across the value chain through three different case studies, and an evaluation of the applicability of the MDR. 57

Throughout the project, the consortium will not only contribute valuable insights, but also formulate recommendations and delineate potential areas r equiring a ttention for both companies and the public sector. This comprehensive approach ensures a thorough examination of the implications and applications of advanced materials in the realm of medical technology, fostering a responsible and forward-thinking p aradigm for their incorporation into healthcare practices with regulations in mind. Role of BNN in AdMa4Med project: Project coordination, Safe and sustainable use of Advanced Materials in Medical Devices incl. Regulatory Aspects, Communication & Dissemination

Contact Susanne Resch BioNanoNet Forschungsgesellschaft mbH susanne.resch@bnn.at www.bnn.at https://projekte.ffg.at/projekt/4822678

The AdMa4Med project is supported by the Federal Ministry of the Republic of Austria for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology (BMK), serving as the funding body, with the FFG acting as an intermediary.

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DeDNAed Meeting and Inter- active Training of the Consortium In November the DeDNAed consortium convened for their 6-monthly general assembly, this time in Potsdam, Germany. Our meeting hosts from the University of Potsdam not only p rovided an excellent stage for scientific exchange and discourse, but also facilitated networking p ossibilities through joint dinners and campus tours. Partners travelled from Austria (BNN), France (Le Mans University), Spain (CIC biomaGUNE & Tecnalia) and other parts of Germany (University of Technology Chemnitz & KSI Meinsberg) to the charming city near Berlin in order to further push the boundaries of biosensing. The core of the project focusses on developing an innovative biosensing platform with s uperior characteristics regarding sensitivity, versatility and being ultrafast by an optical approach. DNA origami are serving as anchors for the assembly and integration of sensing elements ( transducer and bioreceptor), allowing to precisely control the position of these elements. This results in intricate control of the sensor architecture at the nanometer scale.

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During the general assembly all work packages were presented and progress, as well as challenges, were discussed. The collaborative environment allowed the team to collectively define a meticulous action plan for the remaining project duration and setting key goals, such as joint publications and patent applications. Additionally, prospective follow-up projects were discussed among the partners and potentially relevant open calls identified. The assembly was followed by a joint training session in the form of a workshop where all consortium members were involved in experimental procedures gaining hands-on experience handling the biosensor platform. This immersive experience not only enhanced team cohesion but also ensured that everyone was brought up to speed with the latest methodologies crucial for the project's success. The general assembly and subsequent training session mark significant steps toward achieving groundbreaking results. We are looking forward to sharing the outcomes of this cutting-edge project with you soon.

Role of BNN in deDNAed project: Communication & Dissemination, Graphic Design, Safety-by-Design

Contact Caitlin Ahern BioNanoNet Forschungsgesellschaft mbH caitlin.ahern@bnn.at www.dednaed.eu

DeDNAed project has received funding from the European Union’s HORIZON 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement n° 964248. 60

NanoPAT Newsletter #07 released The NanoPAT project has published its seventh newsletter with the latest highlights, introducing the partners Arkema and Creative Nano, sharing news, informing you about the latest project activities and developments, and telling you where you can meet the NanoPAT team in the upcoming months!

Contact Beatriz Alfaro Serrano BioNanoNet Forschungsgesellschaft mbH beatriz.alfaro@bnn.at www.nanopat.eu

Download newsletter

Role of BNN in NanoPAT project: Training, Communication & Dissemination, Graphic Design, Training, SbD

NanoPAT project has received funding from the European Union’s HORIZON 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement n° 862583. QUARTERLY ISSUE 04/2023

PRIME project Delivers Advanced Fabrication Technology Platform for Microfluidic Devices In the sea of EU-funded projects, the H2020 FET-OPEN project PRIME stands out as a relatively small project making an outsized impact in the fields of sensing and fluidic functions. PRIME launched in May 2019, with a b udget of 2.8 million EURs and c oordinated by CSIC in Zaragoza, Spain. Along with p artners Technische Universität Eindhoven, Max Planck-Gesellschaft, Universidad de Zaragoza, and BeonCHIP SL, BNN joined this project with the aim to develop an advanced fabrication technology platform to implement active, cost-effective and easy-to-operate microfluidic devices. After 4.5 years of collaboration, the c onsortium convened in November 2023 for our final review meeting, presenting and discussing our challenges and successes. We were proud to have achieved our outcome, presenting 4 key exploitable results:

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4D printed light-driven autonomous fluidic functions

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Ultrasensitive and selective biosensors with colorimetric thermal transducer

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Thermoplastic liquid crystal elastomer actuators

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Microfluidic device for cell culture

The PRIME platform could be used in the biomedical/health, food or water security, environmental monitoring and veterinary fields. It is portable, low cost, and can be used by non-experts: the potential impact is significant. Within PRIME, BNN had the role of work p ackage lead for Dissemination and Exploitation of results, including the tasks of developing and maintaining the website as well as the communication and dissemination.

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This role included ongoing activities such as posting news on the website and social media channels, monitoring conference attendance and creating communication materials such as graphics and videos. We represented PRIME at public science events, organized webinars and, most importantly, spearheaded the f inal dissemination event at the culmination of the project. BNN also played an active role in exploitation and stakeholder engagement. Project coordinator Carlos Sánchez Somolinos, who also leads BioNanoNet Association m ember Advanced Manufacturing Laboratories (AML), writes, "Big thanks to BNN for their support in the dissemination and exploitation activities of the PRIME project. BNN has been a key partner in the project and at the Advanced Manufacturing Laboratory we look forward for future collaboration.” To learn more about the scientific and technical outcomes of the project, read the PRIME feature in the last issue here. Contact Caitlin Ahern BioNanoNet Forschungsgesellschaft mbH caitlin.ahern@bnn.at www.project-prime.eu

PRIME project has received funding from the European Union’s HORIZON 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement n° 829010.

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STARS Project Successfully Concluded The STARS project was the answer to the transformation that the European railway sector is living under the ‘pressure’ of transformative innovation roadmaps for 2030, global mega-trends and the heavy impact that Covid-19 had on the mobility-transport e cosystem as well as on the construction one – both of them covering the railway supplies. BNN joined this project as a partner to introduce 'safety and sustainability' ( including BNN’s core competence on the implementation of our SSbD concept), and to connect the project with the Austrian community in collaboration with BioNanoNet Association member ACstyria. The challenging project, coordinated by DITECFER, the Italian Railway Cluster, gathered 17 partners from 14 countries (10 Cluster organisations, 1 Digital Innovation Hub, 5 Technology Centres, 1 Blockchain startup) to deliver a pilot methodology that can be replicated to ease and accelerate the adoption of advanced technologies by more traditional SMEs, not only in the railway sector. Among the successful tools piloted during the project implementation: •

the development of a Hackathon format (“Hack&Match”) customised on the needs and ‘capacities’ of SMEs;

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the STARS Blockchain Network offered ‘as a service’ at Technology Readiness Level

9 (TRL9), which made it possible for the SMEs to easily and quickly integrate the technology in their use cases; •

the STARS Tutorials, that concretely h elped the SMEs learn ‘how to’ concretely operate with a wide range of Advanced Technologies.

At the end of the STARS journey, the technologies mostly adopted to solve the challenges and use-cases of the target SMEs resulted to be Blockchain, IoT, Digital Twin and AI, Big Data. Some highlights of STARS project can be found here: starseurope.eu | Our Story: STARS Project Showcase

On 26 September 2023, more than 170 people attended the joint Final Event of the COSME-funded pilot-projects “STARS” and “ReStartSMEs”, titled “Advanced Technologies for Resilience and Competitiveness of European more Traditional SMEs. Lessons learnt and Recommendations for Policy Makers from the COSME-funded flagship projects ‘STARS’ and ‘ReStartSMEs’”. The audience included representatives of EU institutions, cluster organisations, national and regional authorities, research institutions and SMEs. The hybrid event was hosted at the Committee of the R egions (CoR) and patronised by Eugenio Giani, President of the Tuscany Region and Member of the CoR. During the event, the two projects STARS and ReStartSMEs shared the key lessons learnt and policy recommendations to further support competitiveness and innovation of the Industrial Ecosystems throughout E urope as well as territorial cohesion.

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Role of BNN in STARS project: Alliances & Clustering with SMEs, Stakeholder engagement incl. focus groups, Strategic alliances across Europe

Contact Andreas Falk BioNanoNet Forschungsgesellschaft mbH andreas.falk@bnn.at www.starseurope.eu

STARS project has received funding from the European Union’s Competitiveness of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (COSME) programme under grant agreement n° 101037897 — STARS — COS-STRAT-2020-3-05.

Outlook BNN EVENTS & EVENTS SUPPORTED BY BNN

Advanced (Nano)Materials and Technologies: Science, Research, Innovation for Safety and Sustainability

ANTHOS 2024 Advanced (Nano)Materials and Technologies: Science, Research & Innovation for Safety and Sustainability When? 4 – 7 March 2024 Where? Vienna, Austria, TWELVE Conference Center The “Advanced (Nano)Materials and Technologies: science, research & innovation for safety and sustainability” Summit 2024 (ANTHOS 2024) promotes the advancements in technological innovation & research results on Safe-by-Design (SbD) for advanced (nano)materials and b eyond. This summit serves as a platform for bringing together leading experts in Safe-by- Design (SbD) and Safe-and-Sustainable-by-Design (SSbD) from projects funded under the H2020 and Horizon Europe initiatives. Additionally, representatives of key international stakeholder groups (European Commission, OECD, EFSA, ECHA, National Ministries, Industry…) as well as relevant associations and initiatives are invited to actively participate in the event. Seats are limited! Registration is possible for in-person participation and will be closed as soon as the maximum number of participants is reached. We are committed to making this event free of charge to our community. However, please understand that costs are incurred for meals and organization according to the number of registered participants. Therefore, we kindly ask you to inform us by email (info@bnn.at) b efore 12 February 2024 if you cannot attend physically. This will enable the organizers to offer your spot to a colleague on the waiting list. In case of not showing up without proper n otice

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(before 12 Feb 2024), you will be charged a fee of 450 EUR to compensate our costs. DRAFT AGENDA: Monday, 4th of March: •

BioNanoNet General Assembly & BNN Networking Event

Tuesday, 5th of March: •

NMBP-15 Final Event – Demonstration of SbD tools, presentation of key results, and round table discussion

Wednesday, 6th of March: •

NMBP-16 Session – Latest developments on S(S)bD for advanced nanomaterials

Thursday, 7th of March: •

A stakeholder’s perspective of Safeand-Sustainable-by-Design – a bigger picture! (Organized by SABYDOMA)

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SABYDOMA Technology (Organized by SABYDOMA)

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Showcase

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An Expert Workshop on Public Perceptions of Nanoparticles in Cosmetics: Challenges and Opportunities (Organized by DIAGONAL)

Download Draft Agenda

The event is open to research organizations, SMEs and large industries, consultancies, and other organizations active and interested in safety and sustainability of advanced materials, nanomaterials, and related products. The event is organized by BNN, the EU NanoSafety Cluster, and the sister p rojects’ collaboration of the NMBP-15 projects ASINA, SAbyNA, SABYDOMA, SbD4Nano and NMBP-16 projects DIAGONAL, HARMLESS, SUNSHINE, as well as IRISS and PARC.

TechForum Millstatt When? 3 – 7 June 2024 Where? Millstatt, Austria Save the date!

8th Green & Sustainable Chemistry Conference When? 13 – 15 May 2024 Where? Dresden, Germany Get more information here

Joint event ECCPM & BioNanoNet Annual Forum 2024 When? 11 – 12 September 2024 Where? Graz, Austria Get more information here

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Finally We hope you enjoyed reading our BNN QUARTERLY! Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any suggestions or feedback! Our next BNN QUARTERLY will be published in March 2024 and will focus on the topic Tools & Strategies for applying SSbD.

social media channels. Benefit from increased visibility via the these BNN media channels and send us your contributions.

BioNanoNet members are welcome to send their contributions regarding this focus topic and also articles about their scientific research until 5 March 2024! Articles on other topics can be published any time on the BNN w ebsite. We invite all BioNanoNet members to also download our BNN PR MANUAL for January until March 2024 which explains the d ifferent avenues for promotion as well as relevant upcoming deadlines for our QUARTERLY, bi-weekly INFORMS emails, BNN website and

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The BNN team from left to right: Angelika, Beatriz, Christina, Caitlin, Matiss, Julia, Andreas, Simone, Daniel, Christine, Clemens, Susanne, Attila, Johanna

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QUARTERLY ISSUE 04/2023