Jlogan MODULE 4: Biomaterial Engineering Proposal

Research Proposal

• Idea

Found a study between MIT and Hong Kong University where researchers discovered a biodegradable liquid that can stop bleeding in seconds by binding to a certain peptide, and not affecting clotting or invoking the immune response. These peptides self-assemble with the gel to seal the wound and thus stop bleeding. The gel is biodegradable so it can be reused by the body to heal the wound area. Following these lines, we propose to find a similar material but instead target tumors and contain them in the same fashion so they are unable to grow or metastasize. Once the tumor is contained, this opens new methods for drug delivery or therapy to remove/destroy the tumor.

• Design

• Sources

[1] http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2006/hemostasis.html

Ellis-Behnke, R. G.; Y. Liang; D. Tay; P. Kau; G. Schneider; S. Zhang; W. Wu; K. So. 2006. Nano hemostat solution: immediate hemostasis at the nanoscale. Nanomedicine 4: 207-215.

They used a self-assembling solution (NHS-1) that was prepared using a RADA16-I synthetic dry powder obtained from MIT Zhang lab. The study describes experiments testing for how the solution works. They also compared the efficiency of the NHS-1 solution with saline and cautery treated controls. They found that in all cases the NHS-1 worked better.

[2] http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/297/1/31

Ellis-Behnke, R. G.; Y. Liang; S. You, ; D. Tay; S. Zhang; W. Wu; K. So; G. Schneider. Mar 2006. Nano neuro knitting: Peptide nanofiber scaffold for brain repair and axon regeneration with functional return of vision. PNAS

Describes how the self-assembling peptide nanofiber scaffold was created and how it works.

[3] http://www.pnas.org/cgi/content/abstract/99/15/9996

Kisiday*,J.; M. Jindagger; B. KurzDagger; H. HungDagger; C. Semino; S. Zhang, and A. J. Grodzinsky Self-assembling peptide hydrogel fosters chondrocyte extracellular matrix production and cell division: Implications for cartilage tissue repair
They devised a self-assembling peptide hydrogel scafford for cartilage repair as well as a method to encapsulate chondrocytes within a peptide hydrogel.

[4]Davis, M.; J.P. Motion; D. Narmoneva; T. Takahashi; D. Hakuno; R. Kamm; S. Zhang; R. Lee. 2005. Injectable Self-Assembling Peptide Nanofibers Create Intramyocardial Microenvironments for Endothelial Cells. Circulation 111: 442-450.

They demonstrated that self-assembling peptides can be injected and that the resulting nanofiber microenvironments can be detected.

[5]Nagai, Y.; L. Unsworth; S. Koutsopoulos; S. Zhang. 2006. Slow release of molecules in self-assembling peptide nanofiber scaffold. Journal of Controlled Release 115: 18-25.

Describes the structure of self-assmebling peptide nanofibers.

[6]http://www.innovitaresearch.org/news/06102501.html

Describes self-assembling peptide nanofiber scaffolds and what they are used for.