Project description DEENESFRITPL A novel biomaterial for improved cell therapy after cardiac infarction Cell therapy following cardiac infarction has shown promising results in terms of infarct size reduction. However, it cannot reverse myocardium injury and fibrosis. The scope of the EU-funded HepEDOT project is to promote cardiac remuscularisation by improving the retention of cells after therapy and overcoming potential side effects such as graft-induced arrhythmia. For this purpose, researchers will test a biodegradable scaffold made of a heparin-based biomaterial capable of supporting cardiac cells and optimising electrical conductivity. Results have the potential to improve cardiac cell therapy as a therapeutic intervention after cardiac infarction. Show the project objective Hide the project objective Objective Cell therapy has emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy for cardiac repair, showing modest cardiomyocyte protection and infarct size reduction. It is under debate whether these outcomes are due to the implanted cells or their paracrine factors, as cells are scarce within a few weeks post-implantation. Regardless, this is still not sufficient to promote cardiac remuscularization and reverse medium to severe myocardium injury and fibrosis. Improved cell retention has been achieved with a substantial bulk of implanted cells, but highly associated to graft-induced arrhythmia, representing a significant challenge for clinical translation. The present study seeks to promote cardiac remuscularization after infarct, by improving the retention of cardiac cells and their paracrine factors without causing graft-induced arrhythmia. To do so, a conductive, self-doping and biodegradable oligoEDOT-heparin biomaterial will be synthesized and studied on in vitro and in vivo cardiac infarct models. The conductive EDOT oligomer moiety is envisaged to act as an electrical sink to shield the cardiac tissue from mismatched electromechanical impulses, while heparin will facilitate cardiac cell support and loading of regenerative factors, besides its recently documented doping capacity. The results of this fellowship are expected to overcome low cell retention and graft-induced arrhythmia, two of the biggest obstacles for translation in cardiac cell therapy, but also contribute with new insights regarding conductivity in materials and biological systems, to multiple fields of materials chemistry, medicine and bioelectronics. The world-class academic environment, collaborations and combined interdisciplinary expertise in biomaterials and cardiovascular sciences make the proposed fellowship activities ideally placed for enhancing my career prospects and consolidating my host and Europe in a leading position for translational research. Fields of science medical and health sciencesclinical medicinecardiologycardiovascular diseasescardiac arrhythmiaengineering and technologyindustrial biotechnologybiomaterialsmedical and health sciencesmedical biotechnologycells technologies Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Main Programme H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility Topic(s) MSCA-IF-2018 - Individual Fellowships Call for proposal H2020-MSCA-IF-2018 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MSCA-IF-EF-ST - Standard EF Coordinator IMPERIAL COLLEGE OF SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY AND MEDICINE Net EU contribution € 224 933,76 Address South kensington campus exhibition road SW7 2AZ London United Kingdom See on map Region London Inner London — West Westminster Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Other funding € 0,00
