The BIAS Project

BIAS – Biomips ImmunomodulAting Scaffolds for tissue engineering

BIAS is a PRIN 2022 PNRR project that combines advanced scaffold design with biopolymer-based molecular imprinting. By embedding cytokine-specific bioMIPs—biocompatible molecular nanotraps—into tissue engineering scaffolds, BIAS aims to locally control inflammatory signals and guide macrophages toward pro-regenerative phenotypes, without the use of conventional anti-inflammatory drugs.

Key info 

• Call: PRIN 2022 PNRR – Human Health and Wellbeing
• Project ID: P2022HLS3M
• Duration: 24 months
• Coordinating institutions: University of Trento (UNITN) & University of Verona (UNIVR)

Scientific Concept

The core idea of BIAS is to integrate bioMIPs—molecularly imprinted nanoparticles made from natural polymers—into tissue engineering scaffolds. These bioMIPs are synthesized using cytokines, creating highly selective binding sites that can capture the same cytokines once the particles are integrated into a scaffold.

Scaffolds are fabricated from biocompatible, biodegradable biomaterials (for example silk fibroin-based composites) and optimized in terms of composition, geometry, porosity and mechanics to host bone cells and support proliferation. Once decorated with cytokine-specific bioMIPs, these architectures become immuno-instructive scaffolds that can actively modulate the inflammatory microenvironment instead of passively tolerating it.

Team

BIAS brings together two complementary, gender-balanced research units with strong track records in biomaterials, molecular imprinting and tissue engineering.

University of Trento (UNITN)

• Principal Investigator: Prof. Devid Maniglio
• Expertise: natural biomaterials, scaffold fabrication and functionalization, tissue engineering, biofabrication technologies.
• Host: BIOtech Research Center, Department of Industrial Engineering (DIE).

University of Verona (UNIVR)

• Associated PI: Prof. Alessandra Maria Bossi
• Expertise: molecular imprinting of polymers, nanoMIPs for proteins and peptides, analytical chemistry and biosensing.
• Host: Department of Biotechnology

PIANO NAZIONALE DI RIPRESA E RESILIENZA PNRR

Missione 4 “Istruzione e Ricerca” – Componente C2 – Investimento 1.1

“Fondo per il Programma Nazionale di Ricerca e progetti di Rilevante Interesse Nazionale (PRIN)”