Project description
Innovative solutions in cardiac regenerative medicine
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the EU. As such, cardiac regenerative medicine research is important for the development of minutely invasive therapies to treat cardiovascular injuries. Additionally, in vitro models of human cardiac pathological tissues mimicking disease-specific oxidative conditions are demanded to understand pathological mechanisms and develop lower-cost new therapies in compliance with the 3Rs (Reduction, Refinement, Replacement) principle. The EU-funded PACGEL project will identify the minimal reactive species concentration above which oxidative effects prevail by in vitro tests with relevant human cardiac cells. The project will develop plasma jet-activated hydrogels with regenerative potential and design in vitro 3D bio-printed tissue models mimicking different stages of human cardiac diseases.
Objective
Heart diseases represent the main leading cause of mortality in EU and other industrialized countries. The development of minimally-invasive therapies to treat cardiovascular injuries is the subject of intense investigation by the cardiac regenerative medicine community. Moreover, in vitro models of human cardiac pathological tissues mimicking disease-specific oxidative conditions are demanded for understanding pathological mechanisms at different disease stages, and for the development and preclinical validation of novel therapies, at reduced costs and in compliance with 3Rs (Reduction, Refinement, Replacement) principle.
PACGEL aims at the design of novel plasma jet-activated hydrogels based on biocompatible polymers, to be exploited as: (i) injectable stimulating systems to promote cardiac tissue regeneration and (ii) in vitro models of diseased cardiac tissue with tunable oxidative conditions. The biological effect will depend on the doses and types of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species encapsulated in the hydrogels, modulated by the plasma jet treatment parameters. The objectives are: (1) to identify the minimal reactive species concentration (threshold limit) above which oxidative effects prevail, by in vitro tests with relevant human cardiac cells; 2) to develop plasma jet-activated hydrogels with regenerative potential; 3) to design in vitro 3D bio-printed tissue models mimicking different stages of human cardiac diseases. My expertise in Plasma Medicine and Chemistry, the supervisor’s consolidated competence in biomaterials design, tissue engineering and cardiac regenerative medicine, my proof-of-concept preliminary results and the availability of all the needed facilities and training opportunities at the Host Institution will ensure the research progress.
Furthermore, PACGEL will address one major societal challenge such as the treatment of age-related cardiac diseases exploiting green technologies, thus achieving still a greater impact on society.
Fields of science
Programme(s)
- HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Main Programme
Funding Scheme
HORIZON-AG-UN - HORIZON Unit GrantCoordinator
10129 Torino
Italy