Biomed 04 | Artificial Organs

In the 'Artificial Organs' project, we are working on new technologies to create the artificial organs of the future, focusing on artificial kidneys and blood vessels. We are developing production lines for the first generation of portable artificial kidneys and blood vessels.

Additionally, we are exploring how to make the artificial kidney increasingly smaller and eventually implantable. The approach is multidisciplinary and aimed at improving or even eliminating the need for dialysis treatment.

By combining cutting-edge technologies and collaborating with leading partners in the field, we are advancing artificial organ research and transforming patient care.

Mission

Our mission is to develop and produce smart and responsive extracorporeal and implantable artificial organs. These artificial organs will eventually be integrated into the human body.

To achieve this, we are pioneering advanced high-tech building blocks that can be produced both reliably and affordably. Our multidisciplinary project unites expertise from various fields to improve the quality of life for individuals in need of organ replacement.

Approach

A key goal of our work is to develop components and production lines for next-generation artificial kidneys that are not only highly efficient but also increasingly smaller, ultimately striving to create a fully implantable version. This innovation has the potential to transform treatment for kidney failure, eliminating the need for traditional dialysis.

We are developing new high-tech components such as new membranes that can better filter waste from the blood and materials (sorbents and catalysts) that can bind and break down these wastes. We are also working on micro-electromechanical systems that can generate energy for the electronic control of future implantable artificial kidneys.

The future of organ replacement therapy partly lies in the use of biodegradable materials that can support the reconstruction of damaged tissues and organs. In line with this vision, we are developing biodegradable vascular grafts and stents using 3D electrospinning techniques to mimic the natural extracellular matrix. These advanced vascular prostheses can be used to create vascular access for hemodialysis for patients with kidney failure and to treat various vascular conditions, such as critical limb ischemia.

By fostering efficient collaboration between medical, scientific, chemical, and technological disciplines, we are pushing the boundaries of artificial organ technology, ultimately aiming to significantly enhance the health and quality of life for patients around the world.

Innovative building blocks

Our project focuses on developing crucial 'building blocks' for the next generation of artificial organs:

Micro-Electromechanical Systems (MEMS)

These miniature systems are essential for sensing, actuation, wireless communication, powering, and energy harvesting for implantable artificial organs. MEMS technology is promising due to its small size, mass production capabilities, and versatility. Through the use of microsensors and actuators (such as membranes, valves, and pumps), artificial organs can become autonomous and adaptive, utilizing feedback control loops to adjust their functions as needed. Wireless communication, powering, and energy harvesting are crucial for real-time data exchange, mechanical functionality, and energy supply (without batteries) in implantable devices.

Our partners: imec, UMC Utrecht, Micronit, Nexperia

(Bio-)Catalyzers

For the portable artificial kidney, we are working on advanced sorbents and catalysts that effectively bind and break down waste products, allowing a small volume of dialysate to be continuously reused—crucial for the miniaturization of the portable artificial kidney.

Our partners: Chiral Vision, Nextkidney, UMC Utrecht, Dutch Kidney Foundation

Advanced Membranes

Our team is developing two types of high-tech membranes suitable for portable and/or implantable artificial kidney systems:

Polymer-based membranes that contain sorbents and thus combine filtration and adsorption of waste products, making blood purification more effective. This increases the efficiency and safety of artificial kidneys. These membranes are functionalized to improve their biocompatibility and durability for long-term application.

Additionally, we are developing ultrathin silicon-based nanoporous membranes for fully implantable artificial kidneys with continuous blood filtration.

Our partners: UTwente, Biochem Oss, imec, UMC Utrecht

3D Electrospun Biodegradable Materials

We are designing biodegradable nanofiber scaffolds for stents and grafts that promote tissue restoration after implantation and are converted into natural tissue while the synthetic material gradually degrades. This provides a sustainable and biocompatible solution for vascular diseases and vascular access in hemodialysis. We are working on scaling up the production of these 3D electrospun nanofiber scaffolds and the machines for these production lines.

Our partners: Vivolta, Xeltis, SupraPolix, Stentit, Corbion

Testing Platform

To ensure the reliability of these building blocks, we are creating sterile and non-sterile testing platforms for preclinical validation of artificial organ components, see https://artkidneylab.com/. This streamlines the development process and facilitates a fast translation from laboratory to clinic, accelerating the overall innovation cycle.

Our partners: LifeTec Group, UMC Utrecht

Partners

Contact

The UMC Utrecht is responsible for the project management with support from the Dutch Kidney Foundation. 

For more information regarding this project, please contact Karin Gerritsen, Project Leader, Artificial Organs, at k.g.f.gerritsen@umcutrecht.nl