Development and characterization of medical implants functionalized by a bioactive molecule

Full description

Around 5% of the population of European countries is affected by intracranial aneurysms (ICAs), the majority of which remain asymptomatic until they rupture. When an IA ruptures, it causes a hemorrhagic stroke, with a morbidity and mortality rate in excess of 50%.

Today, invasive surgery is no longer required to treat Aneurysms. They are mainly managed by endovascular insertion of metal coils, which exclude the aneurysm from the bloodstream (1). This leads to thrombosis, followed by cellular and collagen healing (2).
However, up to 30% of treated aneurysms recur within a year (3), implying not only frequent retreatment and an increased risk of stroke, but also the danger of rupture if left untreated. The mortality rate in the event of recurrence is as high as 70% (1).
Although a great deal of research has been carried out to improve these devices through functionalization, none of the proposed solutions has yet led to satisfactory preclinical results, nor to prospects for large-scale industrialization.

This internship is part of an innovative project which has already demonstrated, in an in vivo rabbit model, that the use of a polysaccharide extracted from seaweed significantly improves the healing of intracranial aneurysms (5). This project is now supported by a coils manufacturer and aims to develop and optimize the functionalization of these coils, with a view to future industrialization and marketing.

The aim of the internship is to study and optimize the various coil functionalization methods already in place. To this end, the functionalized layers will need to be characterized (FTIR, contact angle, AFM, XPS, UV-visible, dosage), their robustness and durability tested (release, friction resistance, roughness) and their efficacy assessed (in vitro study in whole blood and on cells, growth factor studies).

References:

1. Zhang, Q., Weng, L. & Li, J. The evolution of intracranial aneurysm research from 2012 to 2021: Global productivity and publication trends. Front. Neurol. 13, 953285 (2022).
2. Brinjikji, W., Kallmes, D. F. & Kadirvel, R. Mechanisms of Healing in Coiled Intracranial Aneurysms: A Review of the Literature. Am. J. Neuroradiol. 36, 1216–1222 (2015).
3. White, P. M. et al. Hydrogel-coated coils versus bare platinum coils for the endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms (HELPS): a randomised controlled trial. The Lancet 377, 1655–1662 (2011).
4. Rouchaud, A. Optimisation biologique du traitement endovasculaire des anévrysmes intracrâniens.
5. Szatmary, Z. et al. Bioactive refinement for endosaccular treatment of intracranial aneurysms. Neuroradiol. J. 34, 534–541 (2021).

Location

CEA Saclay, (91) Essonne, France

Internship conditions

• Internship duration: 6 months
• Level of study: Bac+5
• Training: Master 2
• Continuation in PhD thesis: Yes
• Application deadline: 10 février 2025

Supervisor

Emilie ROCH
Phone: +33 1 69 08 12 80
Email :

Head of the laboratory NIMBE / LICSEN

Frédéric Oswald
Phone: +33 1 69 08 21 49