Project description
A novel 'traffic cop' detains intercellular cargo of diagnostic and prognostic value
In the 1980s, researchers discovered that healthy cells release small membrane-bound extracellular vesicles now known as exosomes. They are loaded with cargo including proteins, DNA and RNA originally thought to be associated with intercellular communication and signalling. While this remains true and exosomes can affect the function of distant cells, exosomes and their cargo also play a role in tumour growth and metastasis as well as in other diseases, making them potentially potent biomarkers for diagnosis and monitoring. The EU-funded Vezics project is bringing a novel platform for exosome isolation closer to market by introducing technical enhancements and evaluating business opportunities.
Objective
There is enormous interest in using exosomes in the diagnosis and monitoring of cancer and other diseases, as well as their
use as therapeutical tools. These cell-derived vesicles that are present in most bodily fluids are increasingly considered the
“future of biomedicine”.
However, in terms of clinical applications, we are far from realising exosomes’ full potential. The greatest barrier is the lack of
dependable protocols for their isolation.
Vivoscreen is developing a novel platform for exosome isolation based on size exclusion chromatography (SEC) and immune affinity chromatography (IAC). Capitalising on very promising research results, the Vezics platform intends to offer all the advantages of SEC and IAC, while eliminating its disadvantages with regards to exosome isolation. The Vezics platform utilizes SEC as a first stage for exosome isolation. SEC media are selected according to the properties of the input material. The resulting EV-rich fractions are further purified by (IAC) on columns built for specific scientific needs.
As high quality, by-product free isolation of exosomes is a prerequisite for all exosome applications, we expect our development to have a considerable positive impact across the entire spectrum; from research through diagnostic to therapeutic use of exosomes.
This is a high risk / high reward project targeting an emerging market segment with extremely high growth potential. This proposal aims a Phase 1 feasibility study to better understand the risks and opportunities involved in this exciting venture.
Our proposal was previously submitted to the SME Instrument and received 12.97 points. We hope that in the current proposal we managed to clarify key aspects of our approach to be found worthy for support. Since our last submission, we continued with the development and have built the functional prototype of the Vezics system. Thus, parallel to the feasibility study we can start its experimental validation and refinement as well.
Fields of science
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
SME-1 - SME instrument phase 1Coordinator
1031 BUDAPEST
Hungary
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.