Descrizione del progetto
Una piattaforma di laboratori su chip per la micromanipolazione di cellule staminali tumorali
Le cellule staminali cancerose (CSC) esistono quale sottopopolazione cellulare tra i molti tipi diversi di cellule all’interno di un tumore. Le CSC sono in grado di moltiplicarsi all’infinito e sono più resistenti alla chemioterapia, portando a ricadute dopo il trattamento. L’obiettivo del progetto SUMCASTEC, finanziato dall’UE, è sviluppare un trattamento alternativo mirando selettivamente alle CSC quiescenti, inducendone poi la differenziazione per sensibilizzarle ai trattamenti. L’approccio del progetto per isolare le CSC in tempo reale si basa su un’innovativa piattaforma micro-optofluidica di laboratori su chip (LOC, lab-on-chip) sviluppata attraverso uno sforzo multidisciplinare. Un singolo LOC sarà in grado di raffrontare le firme spettrali delle cellule e di mostrare le caratteristiche subcellulari al fine di modulare le condizioni del microambiente delle CSC con una risoluzione spaziale e temporale elevatissima.
Obiettivo
SUMCASTEC explores radically new approach for cancer stem cells (CSCs) real time isolation (i.e. within minutes vs current 40 days) and neutralization. A novel micro-optofluidic lab-on-chip (LOC) platform will be developed through a joint and iterative effort by biologists, clinicians and engineers. For the first time, a single LOC will be capable of delivering ultra-wide broadband radiation to compare cell spectral signatures, image subcellular features, and hence modulate CSCs microenvironment conditions with unprecedented space and time resolution. It will be driven to isolate CSCs from heterogeneous differentiated and stem cell populations, and force CSCs differentiation, ultimately inducing sensitivity to anticancer treatments. Extensive in vitro and in vivo testing along with biophysical modelling will validate the approach and establish the proof-of-principle within the project life-time, while laying the groundwork for further development of future electrosurgical tools that will be capable CSCs neutralization in tissue.
This will not only establish a new line of treatment for brain cancers such as Glioblastoma Multiforme and Medulloblastoma, whose initiation and recurrence were linked to CSCs, and that claim tremendous human and economic tolls, worldwide; it will also push the current boundaries of microbiological analysis by enabling microenvironment characterization/manipulation and real-time ionic channels monitoring without cytotoxic patch-clamping or electron microscopy.
By investing in efforts such as SUMCASTEC’s, Europe will stand at the forefront of global biomedical innovation and push through a similar miniaturization trend as the one that propelled mobile communications, yet with much deeper societal impact.
All the required competences are gathered within this consortium. The ambitious objectives of the project are planned over 42 months with a requested grant of 3 978 517,5 €.
Campo scientifico
- medical and health sciencesclinical medicinesurgery
- engineering and technologyother engineering and technologiesmicrotechnologylab on a chip
- natural sciencesphysical sciencesopticsmicroscopyelectron microscopy
- medical and health sciencesmedical biotechnologycells technologiesstem cells
- medical and health sciencesclinical medicineoncology
Programma(i)
Invito a presentare proposte
Vedi altri progetti per questo bandoBando secondario
H2020-FETOPEN-1-2016-2017
Meccanismo di finanziamento
RIA - Research and Innovation actionCoordinatore
87032 Limoges
Francia