A bizarre email about “baby bags,” skin-friendly laundry sheets, or eye drops with nanoparticles. Research by Miroslava Rysová and the Department of Applied Biology at CXI TUL shows that the path from laboratory research to a practical product is often surprising, challenging, but frequently much more pragmatic than companies initially imagine.
When did you first realize that you wanted to focus on research related to nanofibers?
I got into research as such while I was still a student. It wasn’t that I was captivated by nanofibers themselves—because there were already plenty of those everywhere at the time—but rather by the combination of the material and its potential applications. In addition to nanofibers, hydrogels, various 3D structures, nanoparticles as such, and hybrid structures are also used in medicine. There is a vast array of them, and each of these structures has its own advantages and disadvantages. It’s like a small universe that you can explore and immerse yourself in for a lifetime.
So you work with materials that can be used in medicine, cosmetics, or biotechnology. In that case, how does the research and development process for a specific product work?
That process varies slightly each time. Previously, we had a material with certain potential ready and were looking for a company that would verify whether it could use it in its products and potentially commercialize it. Currently, we’re more in contact with various companies and addressing their specific requirements. We often focus on further developing the material, testing its properties—such as safety—improving a specific parameter, and similar matters.
This led us, for example, to a small company in Liberec called EcoHaus, which specializes in the production of laundry sheets. We recently tested the biocompatibility of the fabric with skin for them. It was necessary to confirm that the fabric treated with it does not irritate the skin so that this information could be promoted to customers and the product could be labeled as an eco-friendly and safe alternative to conventional products.
How do you take regulatory requirements into account when developing materials?
Regulatory requirements must, of course, always be followed in this industry. In addition to developing materials, we also focus in part on testing their functionality. This includes evaluating the required properties and, of course, safety during application. For example, in medical or cosmetic applications, the rate of degradation, safety for the patient or customer, and bioactivity are all very important for the material. That is, the ability to interact with living tissue, where the material can, for example, promote wound healing in medical products or stimulate collagen production in cosmetic ones. But that is just one example, and there are a vast number of possibilities, always taking into account the specific product, material, and application. In addition to development, we also offer companies the option of pre-testing selected properties, such as biocompatibility. Although our laboratory is not part of the accredited CXI TUL laboratory, we give companies the opportunity to verify their product’s properties before investing in expensive accredited tests. This gives the company a better chance that its product will pass the evaluation, or, if necessary, provides an impetus for the required product modifications.
Do you also test materials on animals?
No, we use in vitro methods—that is, in glass—and ex vivo methods—outside a living organism. These are systems created in the laboratory that can, at least partially, yield a response similar to that of living organisms. At the same time, we are striving to develop these methods, as there is a huge market segment for in vitro testing that is constantly evolving and has great commercial potential.
Can you describe some successful projects from recent years and what they focused on?
One example is the European Cellux project, led at the university by Dr. Alena Ševců and involving a broad international consortium. It tested eye drops containing cerium oxide nanoparticles as a therapy for degenerative eye diseases. It was a very interesting project that also yielded relatively positive results.
We evaluated whether the nanoparticles affect the ocular epithelium and the microbiome. With such a therapeutic product, there must be no damage to the surrounding tissue or its natural components. We didn’t just focus on safety for eye cells, but also, for example, on the effect on the intestinal epithelium. After all, if a patient accidentally swallows the drops, it must be clear that they are safe even outside the eye itself. However, there are many such projects, and each presents slightly different challenges.
Are you currently looking for partners for specific projects, and what can companies expect if they join your institute in research?
We are constantly looking for partners. However, we are not just looking for companies for specific projects, but rather those who are interested in our work and want to talk to us about what they need to improve or solve.
They can expect not only professionalism but also a realistic perspective on the matter. In my view, it is essential in research not to promise companies something we cannot achieve and cannot back up with real results. It is important—not just from the perspective of scientific ethics—not to embellish results just to make them sound better. That is why we always aim to provide relevant information, a realistic perspective, and at the same time a willingness to innovate and seek solutions that are not entirely conventional.
I also consider the institute’s multidisciplinary nature to be a huge advantage. Even though the institute has a broad scope of work, we all know each other here for the most part. We have an overview of the activities of various groups, and if we are unable to solve a specific problem ourselves, that doesn’t mean another research group at the institute can’t handle it.
But collaboration between science and practice certainly doesn’t just involve technical challenges, spreadsheets, and testing. Do you remember a moment over the years that really made you laugh?
There are plenty of funny moments, but not all of them are exactly suitable for publication. But for example, a few years ago we received an email saying that a doctor was coming who was interested in bags for babies. Since we’re used to getting bizarre requests from time to time, it doesn’t seem all that strange.
Then a Czech neonatologist working in Ireland arrived, and he was genuinely interested in materials suitable for the temporary protection of premature babies, which he simply referred to as “bags.” He needed something better. That email eventually led to an unexpected and incredibly interesting collaboration on 3D-printed masks for premature babies, customized to fit their faces better. Our 3D printing lab played a huge role in this, as they are capable of creating amazing designs from a wide variety of materials. I think this is not only an example of a funny moment, but also a demonstration of the amazing multidisciplinary nature of CXI TUL.
