Projektbeschreibung
Innovative Lösungen in der regenerativen Herzmedizin
Herz-Kreislauf-Erkrankungen sind die häufigste Todesursache in der Europäischen Union (EU). Daher ist die Forschung im Bereich der regenerativen Herzmedizin wichtig für die Entwicklung von minimal-invasiven Therapien zur Behandlung von Herz-Kreislauf-Schäden. Darüber hinaus werden In-vitro-Modelle von pathologischem menschlichem Herzgewebe benötigt, die krankheitsspezifische oxidative Bedingungen nachahmen, um pathologische Mechanismen zu verstehen und kostengünstigere neue Therapien nach dem 3R-Prinzip (Reduction, Refinement, Replacement) zu entwickeln. Im Rahmen des EU-finanzierten Projekts PACGEL wird die minimale Konzentration reaktiver Spezies, oberhalb derer oxidative Effekte überwiegen, durch In-vitro-Tests mit relevanten menschlichen Herzzellen ermittelt. Daraufhin werden plasmastrahlaktivierte Hydrogele mit regenerativem Potenzial entwickelt und in vitro per 3D-Biodruck Gewebemodelle entworfen, die verschiedene Stadien menschlicher Herzerkrankungen nachahmen.
Ziel
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.
Wissenschaftliches Gebiet
Programm/Programme
- HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Main Programme
Aufforderung zur Vorschlagseinreichung
Andere Projekte für diesen Aufruf anzeigenFinanzierungsplan
HORIZON-AG-UN - HORIZON Unit GrantKoordinator
10129 Torino
Italien