TargetCaRe — Targeting Cartilage Regeneration in joint and intervertebral disc diseases

Results in brief

Targeting Cartilage Regeneration in joint and intervertebral disc diseases

The worldwide burden of chronic musculoskeletal diseases, in particular osteoarthritis (OA) and chronic low back pain caused by intervertebral disc disease (IVD), has incited considerable scientific efforts to finding regenerative treatments that would cure or slow the progression of these diseases. In particular the use of specific proteins (growth factors) and stem cells has been in focus. However, none of these have translated to the clinic as a routine treatment yet. The objective of TargetCaRe was to train a group of researchers skilled in a variety of innovative technologies that go beyond the current state-of-art and make clinical application of regenerative medicine for joint and intervertebral disc diseases feasible and successful in the future. We aim for regeneration of damaged and degenerated tissues in joint or IVD diseases. For this purpose we have developed strategies that specifically target the diseases and affected tissues by using hydrogels and so-called nanocarriers (tiny hollow structures) that can be filled with e.g. anti-inflammatory drugs or factors that stimulate regeneration. This system will stimulate and exploit the body’s own capacity for regeneration. We have developed assays, including imaging techniques as well as optimized bioreactors that simulate the mechanical and inflammatory environment in the body, to test the release and functionality of the drugs and factors. The nanocariers showed promising results for delivery of drugs to target cells. One of the gels was found particularly suitable to repair cartilage defects.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union

Project objective

Mobility, important for well-being, is seriously impaired by chronic low back pain and osteoarthritis in many people due to degeneration of cartilaginous tissue of the intervertebral disc and joint. To develop a treatment for these diseases this ETN aims to combine expertise in novel highly advanced drug delivery carriers with dedicated targeting tools, state of the art imaging techniques and expertise in stem cell and joint biology by training 15 young scientists in 12 partner institutes located in 5 different countries.We aim to achieve regeneration of damaged and degenerated tissues by employing targeting strategies tailored both to the pathology and the tissues involved. Regeneration of diseased tissues will be achieved by loading biologically active agents in state-of-the-art nanocarriers. The biologically active agents will stimulate the body’s own capacity to regenerate by attracting local stem cells or inhibit degeneration. Targeting will be achieved by A] injection with synthetic or natural hydrogels loaded with the nanocarriers or B] coupling diseased tissue-specific antibodies and specific hyaluronic acid moieties to the nanocarriers. Delivery and retention will be monitored by advanced in vivo and molecular imaging techniques to monitor distribution of the delivered compounds at the tissue level, as well as detect biological markers of regeneration.Major objectives:1] To establish a network of scientists skilled in the use of smart nanocarriers, unique approach of targeting by disease-specific molecules and application of innovative imaging tools. Supported by generic scientific and training in economical and clinical valorisation, these researchers can further implement these technologies in the musculoskeletal or other areas, both in academia and industry.2] To develop strategies exclusively targeting diseased tissues with controlled doses of bio-actives, circumventing the disadvantages of the current shotgun approaches in regenerative medicine.

Original text from CORDIS.

Participants

ERASMUS UNIVERSITAIR MEDISCH CENTRUM ROTTERDAM · RotterdamCoordinatorNetherlands
AARHUS UNIVERSITET · Aarhus CDenmark
AO FORSCHUNGSINSTITUT DAVOS · Davos PlatzSwitzerland
CARDIFF UNIVERSITY · CARDIFFUnited Kingdom
IMPERIAL COLLEGE OF SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY AND MEDICINE · LondonUnited Kingdom
Omics2Image B.V. · AmsterdamNetherlands
PERCUROS BV · 's-Gravenhage (Den Haag)Netherlands
PROCORE LTD · NES ZIONAIsrael
Stichting ReumaNederland · AMSTERDAMNetherlands
TECHNION - ISRAEL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY · HaifaIsrael
THE UNIVERSITY COURT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ABERDEEN · AberdeenUnited Kingdom
UNIVERSITAIR MEDISCH CENTRUM UTRECHT · UtrechtNetherlands
UNIVERSITEIT MAASTRICHT · MaastrichtNetherlands

TargetCaRe · Targeting Cartilage Regeneration in joint and intervertebral disc diseases

Results in brief

Targeting Cartilage Regeneration in joint and intervertebral disc diseases

Project objective

Participants

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