Description du projet
Solutions innovantes en médecine régénérative cardiaque
Les maladies cardiovasculaires sont la principale cause de décès dans l’UE. À ce titre, la recherche en médecine régénérative cardiaque est importante pour le développement de traitements très peu invasifs contre les lésions cardiovasculaires. En outre, des modèles in vitro de tissus cardiaques humains pathologiques imitant les conditions d’oxydation spécifiques à la maladie sont nécessaires pour comprendre les mécanismes pathologiques et développer de nouveaux traitements moins onéreux conformément au principe des 3R (Réduction, Raffinement, Remplacement). Le projet PACGEL, financé par l’UE, permettra d’identifier la concentration minimale d’espèces réactives au‑dessus de laquelle les effets oxydatifs prévalent grâce à des tests in vitro sur des cellules cardiaques humaines. Le projet permettra de développer des hydrogels activés par jet de plasma ayant un potentiel régénérateur et de concevoir des modèles de tissus bio-imprimés en 3D in vitro imitant les différents stades des maladies cardiaques humaines.
Objectif
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.
Champ scientifique
Programme(s)
- HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Main Programme
Régime de financement
HORIZON-AG-UN - HORIZON Unit GrantCoordinateur
10129 Torino
Italie