Vornia is an innovative spin-out company from the National University of Ireland, Galway that specialises in biomaterials design, development and fabrication for the medical device industry. Vornia was established to provide biomaterial solutions for medical device manufactures and providers, supplying customised natural and synthetic polymers to the market. Vornia has a number of products including collagen Type I from various sources, resorbable polymers including PLGA, PCL, and PLLA, and specialist cell culture growth media for stem cell isolation and maintenance.
Expertise in collagen type I laid the foundation for the founding of Vornia. Collagen type I is the most common protein in the human body (25-35% of total protein content) and forms the framework for most tissues and organs. It is the main component of most connective tissues and of fibrous tissues (ie. tendons, ligaments, skin) but is also present in cartilage, bone, blood vessels and intestines. Collagen’s molecular structure is based on a triple-helix of peptide chains which provides tensional strength to tissues like tendons and ligaments. In research work, collagen is often used as a framework for growing cells outside of the body as it facilitates attachment and cell expansion. Collagen is medically used in wound care and reconstructive surgery, as well as in cosmetic applications. Vornia scientists use collagen type I to prepare a variety of products from the basic (hydrogels, sponges and films) to the complex (opens in a new window)Neurograft conduits and (opens in a new window)collagen-resilin fibres for tendon repair. Vornia aims to produce the highest quality collagen on the market and offers batches prepared to specification.
Vornia participates and leads many medium and long term research projects funded under the FP7 funding scheme, and the EU Framework Program for Research and Innovation; Horizon 2020. You can check out these projects at (opens in a new window)http://www.vornia.com/research/
Project Participants:
(opens in a new window)Dr. Wenxin Wang
(opens in a new window)Dr. Udo Greiser