The Nanoflexion technology, which was developed through interdisciplinary collaboration between material engineers and medical scientists, uses nanofiber materials to overcome long-standing problems in colorectal surgery. “Nanoflexion was born out of an urgent need to prevent serious post-surgical complications that have been troubling patients for decades. This agreement gives us the institutional backing and support we need to translate years of research into clinical reality,” said Markéta Hujerová (Klíčová), founder of the Nanoflexion project, who recently presented the project at the World Expo in Osaka, Japan.
The technology is based on the application of patches that use electrostatically spun nanofibers to create a tissue-friendly protective layer around the surgical site. The patch is applied directly during surgery, where it serves as a protective barrier on the intestinal anastomosis and helps prevent adhesions and leakage of intestinal contents. The project is currently in the preclinical development phase with the aim of initiating the first clinical trials.
Comprehensive innovation ecosystem
Under the signed agreement, i&i Prague will provide incubation support in the form of expert advice on scientific, legal, commercial, and other issues, while the Technical University of Liberec and the Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen will participate in research and preclinical verification of the technology.
“At i&i Prague, we focus on supporting breakthrough innovations that can fundamentally improve patient care. Nanoflexion fits perfectly into our vision of supporting scalable and beneficial technologies,” said Roberto Fernandez Alvarez, incubation manager at i&i Prague.
“The Technical University of Liberec is the cradle of industrial nanofiber production, thanks to the patented technology for producing nanofibers by electrostatic spinning – Nanospider®, which was introduced to the world in 2004 by the team of Professor Oldřich Jirsák from the Faculty of Textile Engineering at TUL. Over the past twenty years, researchers from our university have registered 170 patents, more than 20 of which are in the field of nanofiber production. Nanoflexion is another scientific and research success in the field of nanofibers, which was born in cooperation with other partners, primarily clinical doctors from the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Pilsen, in Liberec,” said Petr Lenfeld, Vice-Rector for Science and Research at the Technical University of Liberec.
“From the perspective of the medical faculty, we see great potential in Nanoflexion technology for reducing postoperative complications in colorectal surgery. We are happy to contribute our experience in its preclinical and future clinical testing,” added Prof. MUDr. Václav Liška, Ph.D., from the Faculty of Medicine at Charles University in Pilsen.
