Objective
Cardiovascular diseases are the world’s number one killer, causing 43% of all deaths and costing the EU 192 billion Euros annually. Delaying their progression using e.g. targeted drug delivery to atherosclerotic plaques is a number one priority in modern healthcare.
The enzyme sphingomyelinase (SMase) is upregulated in atherosclerotic plaques. In vivo, dysregulation of enzymatic conversion of the cell membrane phospholipid sphingomyelin (SM) to ceramide by SMase leads to a change in ceramide concentration. This causes endothelial dysfunction, atherosclerosis, ischemic heart disease, emphysema, cancers, cystic fibrosis and depression. SMase-targeting drugs are an emerging research topic but no localised delivery vectors to alleviate negative systemic side effects are yet reported. This project marks two world-firsts: SMase as a target for drug delivery, and a liposome formulation from which release is not only targeted but ENDOGENOUSLY TRIGGERED by the target enzyme.
SM analogues will be synthesised and incorporated into the membrane bilayer of drug-loaded liposomes. The ceramide analogue products they form on enzymatic reaction with SMase create drug-eluting pores in regions of high SMase activity (i.e. atherosclerosis) and release an encapsulated drug, but unlike natural ceramides do not interact with cells to trigger responses such as apoptosis. For the first time, toxicity of SM analogues and efficacy of the optimised liposome delivery vectors will be measured on human vascular endothelial cells using state-of-the-art live cell Raman microspectroscopy, which can highlight subtle differences in lipid and cholesterol production and distribution and cell cycle.
This never before reported drug delivery platform can be translated to treat many SMase dysregulating pathologies and is a major breakthrough in liposomes for TRIGGERED drug delivery. The impact on health and society of locally treating these pathologies with SMase-targeting drugs cannot be overestimated.
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 clinical medicine cardiology cardiovascular diseases arteriosclerosis
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules lipids
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine oncology
- medical and health sciences basic medicine pathology
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins enzymes
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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.
FP7-PEOPLE-2013-IEF
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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
SW7 2AZ London
United Kingdom
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.