SPOKE 6
Medical Devices and Technologies
Development of innovative medical devices, advanced sensors, and robotic technologies for precision diagnostics and personalized therapy.
Spoke Leader and Expertise
Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia
The University of Modena and Reggio Emilia is recognized for its well-established expertise in the development of medical devices, bioengineering, regenerative medicine, and advanced healthcare technologies. Within the framework of precision medicine, the University integrates engineering, biological, and clinical expertise to design technological solutions that support clinicians in diagnostic and therapeutic decision-making, improving the effectiveness, safety, and quality of care.
Partners
- IRCCS Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano
- Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna
- Università degli Studi di Cagliari
- Università degli Studi di Catania
- Università degli Studi di Foggia
- Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca
- Università degli Studi di Palermo
- Università di Pisa
- Università degli Studi di Verona
Scientific Coordinators
Prof. Augusto Carlo Bortolotti
Prof. Massimo Dominici
Mission
The mission of the thematic network (Spoke 6) is to design, develop, and validate medical devices and innovative technologies that make precision medicine concretely applicable in clinical settings. In this context, technology is conceived as an enabling tool to improve diagnostic quality, therapeutic effectiveness, and patient safety.
Objectives
- Develop innovative medical devices for precision medicine.
- Improve technological support for clinical decision-making.
- Reduce treatment side effects.
- Promote the adoption of technologies within the National Health Service.
Activities
The activities of Spoke 6 are developed along several lines of intervention. A first area concerns the design of biosensors, that is, devices capable of accurately and promptly detecting specific biological parameters, supporting clinical monitoring and therapeutic decision-making.
A second area of activity involves the development of targeted drug delivery systems, that is, technologies that enable drugs to be delivered directly to the site of interest, reducing exposure of healthy tissues and side effects.
The Spoke also develops tools and technologies to support surgery and radiotherapy, with particular attention to the precision of interventions and the reduction of patient impact. A cross-cutting element of the activities concerns the design of devices that take gender differences into account, recognizing that biological and physiological factors can influence the effectiveness of medical technologies.
Areas of work
Detection devices for precision diagnostics and remote health monitoring
- Biosensing platforms for the detection of extracellular vesicles and cells in biological fluids
- Detection of nucleic acids and protein biomarkers: liquid biopsies with optical biosensors
- Detection of nucleic acids and protein biomarkers: label-free electronic biosensors
- Wearable and implantable electronic biosensors
Assistive tools for precision surgery
- PET enhancement: increased sensitivity and development of intraoperative scanners for the assessment of surgical margins
- Toolbox for minimally invasive robotic surgery
Innovative tools for precision therapies
- Integration of patient-centered device design and real-time sensing with biomedical technologies
- New biomaterials and devices for regenerative medicine
Micro- and nanostructures for innovative pharmacotherapies
- Development of intelligent systems for controlled drug release (Smart Drug Delivery)
- Development of nanotherapeutic agents
- Organic bioelectronic platforms for monitoring therapeutic response in vitro and in vivo
Projects Funded through Cascade Calls
ManoHCC
Three-dimensional matrices and engineered nanoparticles for locoregional treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma
The project aims to develop non-invasive, sustainable, and evidence-based diagnostic pathways to optimize the prediction, early detection, and monitoring of monogenic, cardiovascular, metabolic, and oncological diseases. Through the application of precision medicine and the validation of the “common soil” hypothesis, the research integrates data from the Moli-sani cohort and other population studies with advanced analyses in genomics, phenomics, and biomarkers. By mapping the metabolome from murine models to human clinical subgroups, the initiative aims not only to make diagnostics more accessible and accurate, but also to identify new innovative therapeutic targets for timely and personalized clinical management.
LUNG-TARGET
Targeting avanzato di Nivolumab per il carcinoma polmonare tramite nanocarrier
The project focuses on the design and optimization of an advanced delivery system for Nivolumab, leveraging the potential of PLGA-based nanocarriers to ensure controlled and targeted drug release. The validation of these nanoparticles will be carried out through in vitro testing on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) organoids—three-dimensional models that allow for highly accurate simulation of tumor architecture and enable the study of immunotherapy efficacy in a biologically relevant and personalized context.
GENERE
Genome editing per il trattamento delle patologie retiniche mediante sistemi avanzati di nano-delivery
The project focuses on the development of cutting-edge therapeutic strategies based on genome editing for the treatment of retinal diseases, leveraging advanced nano-delivery systems to overcome the biological barriers of the eye. By integrating precision gene-editing tools with engineered nanotechnological vectors, the research aims to correct molecular defects directly within retinal cells, ensuring targeted and safe delivery of the therapeutic payload to halt the progression of visual degeneration and restore ocular function in clinical contexts that previously lacked effective treatments.
