Innovative Life Science Ideas from Regensburg
The jury surrounding CEO Dr. Thomas Diefenthal, patent attorney Dr. Berthold Bettenhausen, the Vice President of the University of Regensburg Prof. Dr. Bernhard Weber and the Vice President of the Regensburg OTH Prof. Dr. Klaudia Winkler did not have an easy task in determining this year’s prizewinners from the high quality applications. Strength of innovation and potential for the use of work were determining criteria.
One prize was received by Ms. Sara Maslanka Figueroa, a PhD student under the professorial chair for pharmaceutical technology at the University of Regensburg. With the title “Influenza A mimetic nanoparticles trigger selective cell uptake”, she describes a novel method for reliable identification of target cells with synthetic nanoparticles. She has succeeded in transferring the biological highly-specific cell target recognition system of Influenza A viruses through the use of biocompatible and biodegradable polymer materials on nanoparticles. With this it is now possible to transport medicines in a targeted manner to cell types and dramatically reduce side effects. Currently worldwide 50% of the 425 million people with diabetes suffer from diabetic nephropathy, which can lead to kidney failure. Damage to the kidney cells through pathological changes to mesangial cells could be treated for the first time using this targeted, specific pharmatherapy with the help of these nanoparticles. With this process other therapeutically relevant target cells can also be distinguished between in a specific and reliable way. Contact: Sara.Maslanka-Figueroa@chemie.uni-regensburg.de
A further prize was received by Lucas Becker, student at the East Bavarian Technical University (OTH), for his Bachelor thesis in industry design by the name “Poseidon”. The work presents a mobile fluid oxygen device, which allows it to be taken into water and treat patients there. With systems to date this has not been possible. The self-swimming device can accompany a person into the water and independently treat the patient there. This makes it is possible in particular for people who need long periods of oxygen therapy to be able to safely leave their home environment with onsite devices and also makes an important contribution to health with sport and movement in the water. Now patients can also safely go swimming for the first time in lakes and rivers external to a rehabilitation facility. With Poseidon patients can break through their illness-related isolation and improve their quality of life. Contact: lucas.becker@st.oth-regensburg.de
f.l.t.r. Dr. Thomas Diefenthal, Sara Maslanka Figueroa, Prof. Bernhard Weber, Photo: University of Regensburg, Julia Dragan
Lucas Becker, Photo: Lucas Becker private
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