AACHEN, Germany— March, 30, 2023 — Electromagnetically heatable nanomodified stent for the treatment of hollow organ tumors wins second place at the RWTH Innovation Award.
Almost every fourth person who dies of cancer has a hollow organ tumor, for example in the bile duct or in the oesophagus. Such a tumor cannot usually be removed surgically. It is only possible to open the hollow organ for a short time using a stent, i.e. a tube-shaped prosthesis. However, the tumor grows back and penetrates the hollow organ through the stent.
Ioana Slabu from the Institute of Applied Medical Technology and Benedict Bauer from the Institut für Textiltechnik of RWTH Aachen University have now developed a novel technology for the therapy of hollow organ tumors, which was awarded second place in the RWTH Innovation Award. This involves a polymer stent that contains magnetic nanoparticles. When electromagnetic fields are applied, these nanoparticles lead to a controlled heating of the stent material and thus of the tumor. Because the tumor reacts much more sensitively to heat than healthy tissue, it is destroyed and the hollow organ remains open. Thus, the stent develops a self-cleaning effect.
A manufacturing process and proof of concept for magnetic hyperthermia are already in place. This novel technology has a very high development potential because it can also be used for tumors in other parts of the body such as the prostate, stomach, intestine or urinary bladder or for cardiovascular diseases.
The AiF/IGF project started under the project title “ProNano” funded by BMWK. Now the approval for the follow-up project “ProNano2” has also been received. The approved project is called: “Validation of the innovation potential of heatable stents for heat-induced treatment of cavity tumours” and is funded by BMBF in course of the VIP+ program, LInk. With the Clinic for General, Visceral and Transplantation Surgery of the University Hospital Aachen and the Institute for Technology and Innovation Management at RWTH Aachen University, the consortium is enriched by clinical and economic expertise.
Every year, RWTH Aachen University honours particularly innovative university projects with the Innovation Award. Professor Malte Brettel, Prorector for Business and Industry, presented the certificates to four outstanding projects as part of RWTHtransparent.
Posted: April 3, 2023
Source: ITA – Institut für Textiltechnik of RWTH Aachen University
