HYDROHEAL

A Smarter Way to Promote Healing of Bones

HYDROHEAL is an ongoing research project aiming to transform how we treat complex bone fractures. Designed with both patients and clinicians in mind, our injectable hydrogel is being developed to promote natural healing, enable precise drug delivery, and help prevent infection - all with minimal surgery and the potential for significant clinical impact.

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  • Minimally Invasive
  • Smart Delivery
  • A Sustainable Innovation
Targeting Spinal and Jaw Fractures

Every 3.5 seconds, someone in the world suffers a bone fracture

These injuries are not only painful but costly - impacting lives, healthcare systems, and economies. Traditional treatments like bone grafts or cement injections often come with risks, limited effectiveness, or long recovery times.

Healing Bones Smarter, Safer, and Minimally Invasive

HYDROHEAL is an ambitious European research project funded under the Horizon Europe programme.

We are developing a new generation of injectable, biodegradable hydrogels that do more than just fill bone defects. These smart materials are designed to:

  • Promote natural bone healing,
  • Deliver therapeutic drugs precisely when and where they are needed, and
  • Prevent infections without contributing to antibiotic resistance.

Using innovations in bioengineering, nanotechnology, and ultrasound-triggered drug delivery, HYDROHEAL offers a minimally invasive alternative to traditional surgery.

Our target? Better treatment for two of the most common and complex bone injuries: vertebral fractures (VF) and alveolar bone fractures (AF), often found in the spine and jaw.

Minimally Invasive Application

Delivered through a simple injection, HYDROHEAL avoids open surgery and speeds up recovery.

Targeted Therapy On-Demand

Therapeutic agents will be released precisely where and when needed, using ultrasound triggers.

Biodegradable & Environmentally Safe

The hydrogel gradually breaks down as bone regenerates, leaving no toxic residue behind.

Infection Defence Without Antibiotics

Antibacterial properties help prevent infections without promoting resistance.

On the Path to Validation

Being tested with human cells, bacteria, and animal models to assess safety and effectiveness.

Better Outcomes, Reduced Costs

Aimed at improving patient care while reducing strain on health systems across Europe.

Curious to learn more?

Explore how HYDROHEAL could change the way we treat bone injuries - safer, smarter, and more sustainably.

Discover the science behind our breakthrough material, meet the international team driving the research, and see how patients could benefit in real-world care.