Project description
Crossing the blood-brain barrier with polymer particles
MicroRNAs are non-coding RNAs with a key role in the regulation of gene expression. Disturbance of microRNA levels has been associated with many diseases, including neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. The EU-funded ExoBBB project proposes to employ microRNAs to restore perturbed gene expression and modulate brain function. Researchers will use macromolecular structures as microRNA delivery vehicles to the brain across the blood-brain barrier. The properties of the structures can be fine-tuned to modify their brain targeting for the required gene expression.
Objective
MicroRNAs (miRs) are identified as significant regulators in modulating brain functions in central nervous system (CNS) disorders like Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Huntington’s and Parkinson’s disease (PD) and amyotropic lateral sclerosis. Sustained delivery of miRNAs to brain could be an excellent strategy to regulate gene expressions affected in the progressive neurodegenerative diseases. Highly biocompatible nanocarriers like extracellular vesicles (eg: exosomes) are an excellent choice as delivery vehicles for miRs but their short half life in systemic circulation and difficulty in crossing BBB limits the application. ExoBBB proposes to use high density polymer brushes to maximise RNA capture and stability, confer biofunctionality, stealth behaviour and active targeting to CNS. Density and chemical composition of these polymer brushes can be tuned precisely to attain optimum physicochemical features necessary for active targeting of BBB. Grafting of polymer brushes over exosomes can impart a star shaped architecture which in turn has been proven effective for neuronal targeting. In addition, these brushes can offer abundant surface functionalities for the conjugation of active targeting ligands. Dual targeting ability of the polymer brush chains will be evaluated by surface modification with peptides which can actively target BBB and neurons. The aim of ExoBBB is to design highly stable and efficient cationic polymer brush-based RNA delivery vectors that can be grafted on safe and biocompatible nanoparticles like exosomes for brain targeting and regulation of neuronal cell phenotype for prolonged periods of time.
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 neurobiology
- natural sciences chemical sciences polymer sciences
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine hematology
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics RNA
- natural sciences mathematics applied mathematics mathematical model
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
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.
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H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
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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.
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.
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)
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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.
(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-IF-2020
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
3004 517 Coimbra
Portugal
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.