Final Report Summary - DMIOL (Microencapsulation of Islets within Functionalized Peg Hydrogel)
Dr Seda Kizilel, the researcher in charge of the project EU-FP7 IRG 239471 (acronymed DMIOL), wishes to express her gratitude to the Commission for their support of this research.
PROJECT OBJECTIVES
In this project, the PI worked on the following objectives. These objectives are all novel and have been either published in high impact journals or in preparation for publication in respectful journals. The main results achieved so far includes the following:
1. The mathematical model that was developed, validated through experiments, and published during the first two years of the project has been developed further using Numerical fractionation method during this work period.
2. Acr-PEG-GLP-1, acr-PEG-RGDS, acr-PEG-IKVAV conjugates have been synthesized, purified, and have been characterized using FTIR.
3. GLP-1 bioactive peptide has been conjugatied to the surface of islets using layer-by-layer self assembly to investigate its effect on islet function without the presence of hydrogel.
4. Novel strategies have been developed to enhance islet function and immunoisolation property of coating. Islets have been coated using surface initiated and bulk photopolymerization. PEG hydrogel coating has been designed to include various peptides and mesenchymal stem cells. In addition, coating of islets within Tregulatory cells (subgroup of immune cells) has been carried out for local immunoprotection. Islet function has been characterized with insulin elisa and viability assays.
WORK PERFORMED AND MAIN RESULTS:
During the last two years of the project, the PI got significant results and has 9 publications and 4 preprints in this period. The researcher published 12 peer- reviewed articles in total during the project period, and 7 of them are directly related to the project, where 5 of them were generated as side projects (not directly related to the project) in the lab and were successfully developed and converted into high impact papers. The researcher has published these results in high impact journals, such as Tissue Engineering, Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part A, Macromolecular Reaction Engineering, Annals of Surgery, Plos One. During the first two years of the project the PI had three publications and several preprints. The preperits and oral/poster presentation details can be found in the following webpage: http://home.ku.edu.tr/~skizilel
In addition, during this period, the PI was invited to deliver seminars at many prestigious universities and conferences, like Univeristy of Michigan, Ann Arbor, University of Minnesota, University of Chicago (detailed list is provided in Dissemination Activities section).
IMPACT: The PI involved with many activities by organizing workshop, participating, and giving talks at various conferences in Turkey. She was invited to give talks at many prestigious universities and conferences in EU and USA. She also hosted important researchers of the field in Turkey. She supervised 7 graduate students during the project. Through these activities, the PI has been able to transfer her knowledge and experience to Turkey and EU successfully. The details of these activities can be found in the Dissemination Activities section.
PROJECT OBJECTIVES
In this project, the PI worked on the following objectives. These objectives are all novel and have been either published in high impact journals or in preparation for publication in respectful journals. The main results achieved so far includes the following:
1. The mathematical model that was developed, validated through experiments, and published during the first two years of the project has been developed further using Numerical fractionation method during this work period.
2. Acr-PEG-GLP-1, acr-PEG-RGDS, acr-PEG-IKVAV conjugates have been synthesized, purified, and have been characterized using FTIR.
3. GLP-1 bioactive peptide has been conjugatied to the surface of islets using layer-by-layer self assembly to investigate its effect on islet function without the presence of hydrogel.
4. Novel strategies have been developed to enhance islet function and immunoisolation property of coating. Islets have been coated using surface initiated and bulk photopolymerization. PEG hydrogel coating has been designed to include various peptides and mesenchymal stem cells. In addition, coating of islets within Tregulatory cells (subgroup of immune cells) has been carried out for local immunoprotection. Islet function has been characterized with insulin elisa and viability assays.
WORK PERFORMED AND MAIN RESULTS:
During the last two years of the project, the PI got significant results and has 9 publications and 4 preprints in this period. The researcher published 12 peer- reviewed articles in total during the project period, and 7 of them are directly related to the project, where 5 of them were generated as side projects (not directly related to the project) in the lab and were successfully developed and converted into high impact papers. The researcher has published these results in high impact journals, such as Tissue Engineering, Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part A, Macromolecular Reaction Engineering, Annals of Surgery, Plos One. During the first two years of the project the PI had three publications and several preprints. The preperits and oral/poster presentation details can be found in the following webpage: http://home.ku.edu.tr/~skizilel
In addition, during this period, the PI was invited to deliver seminars at many prestigious universities and conferences, like Univeristy of Michigan, Ann Arbor, University of Minnesota, University of Chicago (detailed list is provided in Dissemination Activities section).
IMPACT: The PI involved with many activities by organizing workshop, participating, and giving talks at various conferences in Turkey. She was invited to give talks at many prestigious universities and conferences in EU and USA. She also hosted important researchers of the field in Turkey. She supervised 7 graduate students during the project. Through these activities, the PI has been able to transfer her knowledge and experience to Turkey and EU successfully. The details of these activities can be found in the Dissemination Activities section.