Objective
"Cells within tissues are surrounded by fibrillar extracellular matrices (ECM) that support cell adhesion, migration, proliferation and differentiation. Fibronectin (FN) is an ECM protein organized into fibrillar networks by cells through an integrin-mediated process. This assembly allows the unfolding of the molecule, exposing cryptic domains not available in the native globular FN structure and activating intracellular signalling complexes.
This project aims to engineer functional interfaces between living cells and synthetic biomaterials, making use of the fundamental role of fibronectin (FN) to direct cell-material interactions. First, we will engineer material surfaces able to direct the physiological organization of FN into fibrillar networks in absence of cells, so-called material driven fibronectin fibrillogenesis. These surfaces will trigger the organization of FN upon simple adsorption of FN from solutions and will provide a biomimetic interface better recognized by cells, since it resembles the nature ECM environment in tissues. The mechanisms that promote the organization of FN at the material interface will be elucidated making use of different FN fragments and key modifications of the protein. The enhanced cellular activities of the material-driven FN matrices will be used to direct the behavior of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs), seeking to direct either cell lineage or multipotency in combination with the properties of the underlying surface.
Secondly, we will engineer functional – living biointerphases, on which the intermediate layer of proteins between the material surfaces and the cell population is expressed on the surface of non-pathogenic bacteria. This radical idea will provide the field with a living interphase that consists of genetically modified bacteria with FN fragments in the membrane.
These bacteria will be modified to secrete the desired proteins or factors in response to external stimuli, to direct the cell behavior of hMSCs."
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: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences biological sciences cell biology cell signaling
- natural sciences biological sciences microbiology bacteriology
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins
- medical and health sciences medical biotechnology cells technologies stem cells
- 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.
ERC-2012-StG_20111012
See other projects for this call
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.
Host institution
G12 8QQ Glasgow
United Kingdom
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.