In January 2025 Thiomatrix joined the EU-project TENTACLE ((101191747). This project aims to develop a novel strategy to replace intestinal mucosa and submucosa of patients who underwent proctocolectomy. Via in situ 4D bioprinting of adhesive hydrogels containing patients' intestinal stem cells the colorectal mucosa is recreated. To generate highly adhesive hydrogels exhibiting robust mechanical strength in particular thiolated polymers (=thiomers) are used. Thiomers are able to form new disulfide bonds with cysteine subunits found on the surface of the remaining tissue. Moreover, they can crosslink via disulfide bond formation providing a stable extracellular matrix for cell growth (S. Noreen, A. Bernkop-Schnürch, Thiolated Poly- and Oligosaccharide-Based Hydrogels for Tissue Engineering and Wound Healing. Adv. Funct. Mat. 34, 2024, 2310129; https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.202310129).

Prof. Dr. Andreas Bernkop-Schnürch, CSO ThioMatrix, received the Science Award of Tyrol 2023 for his pioneerung reseacrh on thiolated polymers (=thiomers) that are meanwhile used in numerous pharmaceutical and medicinal products. An overview about the thiomer-technology is provided in many review article such as Leichner C, Jelkmann M, Bernkop-Schnürch A. Thiolated polymers: Bioinspired polymers utilizing one of the most important bridging structures in nature. Adv Drug Deliv Rev. 2019 Nov-Dec;151-152:191-221. doi: 10.1016/j.addr.2019.04.007.

On December 1 2022 Prof. Dr. Andreas Bernkop-Schnürch, CSO ThioMatrix, received the PHOENIX Award 2022 for the development of charge converting nanoparticles for drug delivery. On the one hand, anionic nanoparticles can efficiently reach their target cell as they do not interact with the anionic environment of blood and tissue. On the other hand, cationic nanoparticles are more efficiently taken up by target cells. This so-called ‘polycation dilemma’ of nanoparticles was addressed by nanoparticles that are able to convert their surface charge from negative to positive directly on target cells (Le NN, Steinbring C, Le-Vinh B, Jalil A, Matuszczak B, Bernkop-Schnürch A., Polyphosphate coatings: A promising strategy to overcome the polycation dilemma. J Colloid Interface Sci. 2021, 587:279-289).  

In 2022 Prof. Dr. Andreas Bernkop-Schnürch, CSO ThioMatrix, was identified as ‘Highly Cited Researcher’. Of the world’s population of scientists and social scientists, Highly Cited Researchers™ are 1 in 1,000. Worldwide 6,938 researches are ‘Highly Cited Researchers’ that have demonstrated significant and broad influence reflected in their publication of multiple highly cited papers over the last decade. Experts from the Institute for Scientific Information™ provide exclusive insight into the list of Highly Cited Researchers 2022, including regional, institutional and field of study breakdowns and much more.......

On November 13 2017 at the annual meeting of the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS) in San Diego, US, Andreas Bernkop-Schnürch received the Gattefossé North America Award for excellence in research and development of oral dosage forms for therapeutic peptides being based on self-emulsifying drug delivery systems (SEDDS). The Award Selection Committee of eight worldwide experts in the field of lipid excipients was in particular impressed by the development of techniques to achieve payloads above 10%, to provide drug stability in the GI-tract and to shape drug release profiles in a way that a comparatively high oral bioavailability can be achieved. At the award ceremony Andreas Bernkop-Schnürch pointed out that he is very honored to receive this prestigious award especially as ThioMatrix started to work on lipid based formulations just five years ago.

On June 8 2015 Prof. Dr. Andreas Bernkop-Schnürch, CSO ThioMatrix, received the Prof. Ernst Brandl Award for the development of thiolated chitosan as therapeutic agent for treatment of dry eye syndrom. It is the first polymer showing in clinical trials a significant improvement in symptoms of this disease. The therapeutic polymer enters the pharmaceutical market under the brand name LACRIMERA™ this year. The award ceremony celebrating also the 25th anniversary of the Prof. Ernst Brandl award took place in the ‘Silver Hall’ in Schwaz, Austria.

In September 2013 Green River Polymers GmbH (www.green-river.eu) - a spin out company of ThioMatrix - launches a novel cosmetic series. It is based on liquid crystalline formulations having been developed in collaboration with ThioMatrix. The series contains active peptides that are delivered in deeper skin regions via certain permeation enhancing systems.

Since April 2012 ThioMatrix develops together with 13 partners from industry and academia mucus permeating nanoparticulate drug delivery systems within the large-scale collaborative research project ALEXANDER. The project runs from April 1, 2012 to March 31, 2016 within the 7th European Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development and should strengthen European competence in the field of nanomedicine.at this event took over the award

On November 27 2008 Prof. Dr. Andreas Bernkop-Schnürch, CSO ThioMatrix, received the Austrian Nano Award for his research work on thiomer-nanoparticles in the field of non-invasive drug delivery. State Secretary Christa Kranzl handed over the certificate and a cheque over 20,000 Euro sponsored by the Federal Ministry of Transport, Innovation and Technology to Prof. Dr. Andreas Bernkop-Schnürch at the award ceremony in Vienna.

On February 6 2008 ThioMatrix was nominated for the Austrian Innovation Award 2007 (www.staatspreis.at). Each year since 1980 the most innovative companies in Austria are nominated for the Austrian Innovation Award. New successfully launched products as well as innovative processes were carefully examined and assessed by a high-profile independent body of experts. Out of 529 applicants the six best companies were awarded at the ceremony taking place at the Museumsquartier in Vienna. Mag. Britta Deutel representing ThioMatrix at this event took over the award.

On May 14 2007 Prof. Dr. Andreas Bernkop-Schnürch was awarded for the Thiomer-Technology as the most promising novel technology platform of 2006 in Austria . Prof. Dr. Andreas Bernkop-Schnürch pointed out at the award ceremony in the Town Hall of Vienna that he feels very honoured receiving this award in such a competitive field where novel technologies of all scientific disciplines from all over Austria were ranked by the jury. With a prize money of 100.000 Euro for the first place the Dr.-Wolfgang-Houska-Preis award is the best remunerated scientific award in Austria . According to the B & C Foundation (B & C Privatstiftung), a private endowment, the prize is intended to help build bridges between research and industry. The aim of the Dr.-Wolfgang-Houska-Preis award is to promote excellence in scientific research. In determining the winner, the most important criteria are innovation and the principle of scientific sustainability (www.bcprivatstiftung.at).

In October 2006 the integrated project NanoBioPharmaceutics was granted by the European Union. The Consortium consists of 12 University departments, 6 research institutes, 6 SMEs and 3 large industries. The project aims at the development of innovative multidisciplinary approaches for the design, synthesis and evaluation of molecular, nano- and micro-scale functionalities for targeted delivery of therapeutic peptides. ThioMatrix is participating in this integrated project focusing on the development of oral nanoparticulate delivery systems based on thiolated polymers. The project shall contribute to ThioMatrix’s further developments of its core technology – the thiomer technology – in the field of nanoparticulate peptide delivery systems.