Keynote Lecture I

doi:10.1515/bnm-2015-9001

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Keynote Lecture I

Published/Copyright: October 5, 2015

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From the journal BioNanoMaterials Volume 16 Issue 2-3

KN-01

EXTRACELLULAR MATRIX ANALOGUES FOR ADVANCED THERAPY MEDICINAL PRODUCTS

*M. Santin¹

¹University of Brighton, Brighton Centre for Regenerative Medicine, School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Brighton, Gro□ritannien

The future development of Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMP) based on cell therapies is closely linked to the availability of new biomaterials able to finely tune cell phenotypes. In vivo, cell activities are controlled by specific structural biocues presented by the macromolecules composing the extracellular matrix (ECM) of tissues. Generally, these macromolecules present specific bioligands able to control both the anchorage of cells and their intracellular biochemical pathways. In addition, ECM macromolecules have domains able to dock growth factors thus leading to the formation of concentration gradients necessary to the control of cell migration, proliferation and differentiation.

It is envisaged that synthetic biomaterials able to mimic these ECM features would provide ATMP products of high efficacy as they would reduce the batch-to-batch reproducibility and eliminate the risks of transmittable diseases typical of biomaterials of natural origin.

This lecture will present a biomaterial platform based on synthetic dendrimeric peptides specifically designed to mimic ECM analogues for the pre-clinical handling of cells as well as for their potential application in beta cell-based therapy of diabetes patients.

This technological platform is achieved through an adapted solid-phase peptide synthesis methods allowing the synthesis of hyperbranched peptides with a tree-like structure and dual functionality. The root of the dendrons is designed for anchorage to either a biomaterial surface or to components of the ECM, while the uppermost branching generation presents key bioligands in a orderly-spaced and high density manner. Evidences will be given of the use of these novel biomaterials as ‘organisers’ of cell-to-cell interactions.

The potential of these biomimetic biomaterials in the light of results obtained through clinically-reflective in vitro models.

Acknowledgement:

Financial support by the European Commission FP7, Health 2013-1.3-2, acronym NEXT, contract n. 602235

Published Online: 2015-10-5

Published in Print: 2015-10-1

Articles in the same Issue

https://doi.org/10.1515/bnm-2015-9001