The Polish team will be led by Assoc. Prof. Vignesh Kumaravel, DSc, Acting Director of ICRI-BioM, together with Dr. Agnieszka Krzemińska-Kowalska, Eng. from the Institute of Physics. The Czech team, based at CEITEC, Brno University of Technology, will be led by Dr. Edgar Benjamin Montufar Jimenez.
This international research initiative addresses the urgent issue of rising antimicrobial resistance in the context of orthopedic implants.
NIR-CURATOR aims to develop innovative 3D-printed titanium implants with intrinsic antibacterial properties. A key feature will be multilayer coatings activated by near-infrared (NIR) light, designed to reduce reliance on synthetic antibiotics.
The project targets post-operative and implant-associated infections, including those caused by antibiotic-resistant superbugs. It responds to the growing demand for personalized and long-lasting orthopedic solutions, particularly in light of Europe's aging population.
As Prof. Vignesh Kumaravel emphasizes:
“This collaboration between Polish and Czech research teams will lay the foundation for a new generation of bioactive and safe implants, potentially reducing infection rates by up to 25%, improving patient outcomes, lowering healthcare costs, and decreasing Europe’s dependency on imported medical technologies.”