Objective
The objective of this proposal is to develop a non-viral ex vivo gene therapy that will be applied for both ocular and cardiovascular diseases with high-unmet medical need. The research of the project focuses on improving polymeric DNA-delivery by combining polyplexes with cell penetrating peptides (CPP). To circumvent the toxic and immunogenic problems related to viral vectors, the gene vectors developed in this project will be a non-toxic and non-immunogenic, biodegradable polymeric carrier based on multifunctional poly-alpha-amino acids. The potential of the CPP-containing polyplexes regarding their transfection efficiency and the absence of any toxic or immunogenic side effects will be evaluated using two gene transfer approaches. In a first approach, cells will be transfected with polyplexes (i.e. polymer-DNA complexes) and then seeded on an electrospun polymer membrane prior to implantation.
Alternatively, the polymer membrane will be surface coated with polyplexes prior to cell seeding and implantation. In order to enhance the internalisation efficiency, the polyplexes will be functionalised using Penetratin-like CPP. In order to improve the membrane-cell interaction and to enhance the cell proliferation and differentiation, the polymer membrane will be functionalised with cell interacting peptides (CIP).
To reach the final project goal, different work packages will be implemented:
(1) selection of CIP and CPP,
(2) development of CPP-containing polymers,
(3) development of CIP-containing polymer membranes by electrospinning,
(4) preparation of plasmids and CPP-containing polyplexes,
(5) characterisation of polyplex-cell and polymer membrane-cell interactions,
(6) study on immunological properties of polyplexes and polymer membranes and
(7) polymer membrane implantation in test animals.
Work package 8 will be devoted to the project management.
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.
- medical and health sciences medical biotechnology genetic engineering gene therapy
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics DNA
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules
- natural sciences chemical sciences polymer sciences
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine cardiology cardiovascular diseases
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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.
FP6-2004-LIFESCIHEALTH-5
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.
Coordinator
GHENT
Belgium
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.