Summary
Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) affect more than 2 million residents in Europe. Currently, there is no cure for IBD, and treatment focuses on alleviating symptoms. Injured/compromised mucosal barrier and GI biofilms are common pathophysiological deviations in IBD. The overall aim of this project is to develop gut-stable peptides effective against biofilms, peptides suitable for wound-healing treatment, and nanocarrier systems for targeted delivery. In particular, I will focus on developing new antibiofilm peptides, based on the existent cathelicidins, and also develop GI wound-healing peptides based on the trefoil factor family (TFF). Cathelicidins and TFF peptides occur naturally in humans, and defects in these response systems can lead to GI diseases. Hence, in this project I aim to: (i) design, synthesize and characterise novel gut-stable antibiofilm and wound-healing peptides, and (ii) develop nanoparticle drug-delivery systems for their targeted application. Based on peptidomimetic synthesis, I will produce peptides containing unnatural amino acids, loop and helix mimetics, and also retroinverso analogues. Chitosan-coated liposomal and silica nanoparticles will be used for targeted colon treatment, as multifunctional systems: nanocarriers protect the peptides, chitosan enables mucoadhesive release, and chitosan has also beneficial anti-inflammatory, wound-healing and antimicrobial effects on its own. High regioselectivity and limited off-target effects can be achieved by using gut-stable peptides targeting local sites of inflammation, compromised gut epithelium and biofilms, since they are too large to cross the gut barrier. Orally administered peptide drugs targeting colonic tissues represent a highly innovative and safe route in treating GI disorders.
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More information & hyperlinks
| Web resources: | https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101109065 |
| Start date: | 01-09-2023 |
| End date: | 31-08-2025 |
| Total budget - Public funding: | - 183 600,00 Euro |
Cordis data
Original description
Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) affect more than 2 million residents in Europe. Currently, there is no cure for IBD, and treatment focuses on alleviating symptoms. Injured/compromised mucosal barrier and GI biofilms are common pathophysiological deviations in IBD. The overall aim of this project is to develop gut-stable peptides effective against biofilms, peptides suitable for wound-healing treatment, and nanocarrier systems for targeted delivery. In particular, I will focus on developing new antibiofilm peptides, based on the existent cathelicidins, and also develop GI wound-healing peptides based on the trefoil factor family (TFF). Cathelicidins and TFF peptides occur naturally in humans, and defects in these response systems can lead to GI diseases. Hence, in this project I aim to: (i) design, synthesize and characterise novel gut-stable antibiofilm and wound-healing peptides, and (ii) develop nanoparticle drug-delivery systems for their targeted application. Based on peptidomimetic synthesis, I will produce peptides containing unnatural amino acids, loop and helix mimetics, and also retroinverso analogues. Chitosan-coated liposomal and silica nanoparticles will be used for targeted colon treatment, as multifunctional systems: nanocarriers protect the peptides, chitosan enables mucoadhesive release, and chitosan has also beneficial anti-inflammatory, wound-healing and antimicrobial effects on its own. High regioselectivity and limited off-target effects can be achieved by using gut-stable peptides targeting local sites of inflammation, compromised gut epithelium and biofilms, since they are too large to cross the gut barrier. Orally administered peptide drugs targeting colonic tissues represent a highly innovative and safe route in treating GI disorders.Status
SIGNEDCall topic
HORIZON-MSCA-2022-PF-01-01Update Date
31-07-2023
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