Objective
Mucins are high molecular weight glycoproteins, responsible for most of the extraordinary properties of the mucosal layer, which covers around 300 m2 of our body’s surface. Mucins have mostly been studied in the context of their physiological role: for their ability to protect the epithelial layer from viral and bacterial infection, oxidative degradation, dehydration and mechanical stresses. They are also of major importance in cancer biology, where altered mucin secretions are recognized as cancer markers. A few studies have focused on the interactions of “objects” expected to diffuse from the exterior to the interior of the body through mucin gels, such as nutrients, antibodies, viruses and bacteria.
This proposal describes how we will study the ability of mucin to sequester bioactive molecules secreted by cells surrounded by mucin. The goal is to investigate whether mucin gels can be a reservoir for bioactive molecules in a similar fashion to what the extracellular matrix is now recognized to be. The proposal describes a three-phase approach, which will both advance our knowledge on the physiological role of mucin gels and will lead to the development of innovative mucin-based biomaterials for drug delivery and tissue engineering applications.
The first phase will focus on using 2D mucin coatings to study mucin interactions with relevant bioactive molecules. Also, structure/function will be investigated by modifying mucin chemistry. During the second phase, we will build multilayer thin films of hundreds of nanometer thick using lectin proteins as cross-linker between the mucin layers. The films will be characterized and their ability to act as a reservoir for drugs and other bioactive molecules will be assessed. Finally, in the return phase, we will combine the return host’s expertise on natural based polysaccharide gels, and the knowledge accumulated on mucins. In particular, 3D hydrogels comprising mucin will be developed as a new biomaterials.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: https://op.europa.eu/en/web/eu-vocabularies/euroscivoc.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: https://op.europa.eu/en/web/eu-vocabularies/euroscivoc.
- natural sciences biological sciences microbiology bacteriology
- natural sciences biological sciences microbiology virology
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules carbohydrates
- engineering and technology industrial biotechnology biomaterials
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Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
FP7-PEOPLE-2011-IOF
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Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Coordinator
69622 Villeurbanne Cedex
France
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.