Project description
Synthetic collagen particles for tissue engineering
Collagen, one of the most abundant proteins in cells, exhibits unique self-assembling properties with three peptides intertwining to form a triple helix. Materials science has managed to mimic natural collagen by synthesising model peptides and has created supramolecular assemblies for biomedical applications. The EU-funded Collagen Origami project will further contribute to the rational design of such assemblies by combining synthetic collagen model peptides with other 2D and 3D structures of defined shape and size. The long-term plan is to functionalise these collagen origami particles with the necessary growth factors for creating a synthetic extracellular matrix to culture cell spheroids, opening new avenues in tissue engineering.
Objective
Collagen is one of the most abundant proteins in mammals, which features a unique structural characteristic of three peptide strands assembling into a right-handed triple helix. Synthetic collagen model peptides which form triple helical assemblies have previously been used to mimic the fibrillar structures of natural collagen, as well as create non-canonical supramolecular assemblies for applications in biomedicine and functional materials. However, a general platform enabling rational design of supramolecular architectures based on synthetic collagen remains elusive.
The ‘Collagen Origami’ project aims to fuse the unique self-assembling properties of collagen model peptides with divalent, trivalent and tetravalent organic building blocks to build 2D and 3D molecular architectures of defined shape and size. In this proof-of-concept project, we envision creating 2D graphene-type structures using tripodal peptide–building block conjugates and 3D diamond-type structures using tetrapodal conjugates. The ability to assemble complex designer architectures from short peptidic units would be an unprecedented demonstration of the power of rational design in supramolecular self-assembly and would open a broad new field of collagen nanomaterials with applications in cell biology and nanotechnology.
The ultimate goal of the ‘Collagen Origami’ project is to use the designed supramolecular assemblies as synthetic extracellular matrix mimics to template formation of cell spheroids. Specifically, collagen origami particles functionalized with integrin binding sequences and encapsulating growth factors will be used to support formation of spheroids from primary rat hepatocytes. The size, morphology and gene expression of the spheroids will reveal whether functionalized collagen origami is able to enforce more organ-like behaviour of cultured cells. Reaching this goal would demonstrate the potential of custom designed collagenous particles as matrices in tissue engineering.
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.
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins
- natural sciences biological sciences cell biology
- medical and health sciences medical biotechnology tissue engineering
- engineering and technology nanotechnology nano-materials
- natural sciences biological sciences zoology mammalogy
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
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.
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H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
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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.
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.
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)
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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.
(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-IF-2019
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
8092 Zuerich
Switzerland
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.