Nanoparticles for the Targeted Delivery of Therapeutic Agents to the Brain for the Treatment of Dementias.

Lead Research Organisation: King's College London
Department Name: Pharmaceutical Sciences

Abstract

Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
 
Description We have discovered for the first time, that the use of trichain cationic lipids, as opposed to their more usual dichain equivalents, produces delivery vehicles using our novel preparation process that exhibits a much enhanced level of DNA transfection in the target cells. In addition we have found that the use of salt to prepare the gene delivery vehicles can improve DNA deliver. The information from the research is being used by researchers including ourselves in academia and the pharmaceutical industry to guide their formulation of nucleic acids.
Exploitation Route The information we have found can be used to prepare significantly improved gene delivery vehicles - the novel lipids have significant implications for the preparation of improved delivery vehicles.
Sectors Healthcare

Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology

 
Description In addition to the data obtained being published in the form of scientific papers and presented in the form of talks and posters at major national and international conferences it has been used to inform a variety of work around public engagement (Cheltenham Festival of Science) and public information (web-sites including bloging sites). The information obtained from the study has been invaluable in preparing improved vehicles to delivery siRNA and DNA for the ultimate benefit of the patient. The information from the research is being used by researchers including ourselves in academia and the pharmaceutical industry to guide their formulation of nucleic acids.
First Year Of Impact 2009
Sector Chemicals,Healthcare,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology
Impact Types Cultural

Societal

Policy & public services

 
Description Kings College London
Amount £76,000 (GBP)
Funding ID King's China Overseas Research Student Awards 
Organisation King's College London 
Sector Academic/University
Country United Kingdom
Start 09/2011 
End 12/2014
 
Description Neutron beam time
Amount £60,000 (GBP)
Funding ID RB1120431; RB1120399; RB1210318 
Organisation Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) 
Department ISIS Neutron and Muon Source
Sector Academic/University
Country United Kingdom
Start 01/2011 
End 12/2011
 
Description Neutron beam time
Amount £70,000 (GBP)
Funding ID ILL 8-02-577; ILL 8-02-579; RB1110429; RB1110440 
Organisation Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) 
Department ISIS Neutron and Muon Source
Sector Academic/University
Country United Kingdom
Start 01/2010 
End 12/2010
 
Description Neutron beam time
Amount £30,000 (GBP)
Funding ID RB1220386; RB1220379 
Organisation Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) 
Department ISIS Neutron and Muon Source
Sector Academic/University
Country United Kingdom
Start 01/2012 
End 03/2012
 
Description Neutron beam time
Amount £20,000 (GBP)
Funding ID RB920412 
Organisation Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) 
Department ISIS Neutron and Muon Source
Sector Academic/University
Country United Kingdom
Start 09/2009 
End 10/2010
 
Description 2015 British Science Festival Panel Debate 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Debate panel member at the 2015 British Science Festival, Bradford. Debate entitled 'Developing effective medicines in the modern age'.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015
 
Description Cheltenham Science Festival, invited panelist in public debate about genetic medicine 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? Yes
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Our presentations as part of the debate sparked lots of questions and discussion

Invited to further debates
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2014
 
Description Deuteration Laboratory, Science Technology Facilities Council 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact 'Modelling the Cellular Fate of Gene Delivery Vehicles' (2015) ISIS Deuteration Facility Meeting, Oxford Spires Four Pillars, Oxford.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015
 
Description Drugs, genes and ethics - invited lecture (KIng's College London) to 14-16 year olds 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? Yes
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact Students commented that they enjoyed the presentation as it gave them a new insight into gene delivery

As yet unknown
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2014
 
Description Formulation and Drug Delivery Congress 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact 'Rational Design of Complexes for Gene Delivery: A Case Study' (2015) Formulation and Drug Delivery Congress, London.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015
 
Description Invited presentation at International Review of ISIS, Rutherford Appleton Laboratories, Didcot. 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Presentation (entitled molecules, membranes and medicines) was for the purposes of the international review of ISIS and was well received by the panel as an example of international research performed at ISIS.

The presentation contributed to the excellent report the neutron facility at ISIS received from the review
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013
 
Description Invited presentation at PharmSci Fair, Prague, Czech Republic: Nanoparticles: their Potential in Delivering Therapeutic Molecules 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.)
Results and Impact Presentation stimulated discussion and initiated a collaboration between ourselves and another speaker

Good feedback from the conference organisers regarding presentation
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2011
 
Description Invited presentation of Work at Interpharm - Joint Academic Industrial Meeting of Senior People in the Pharmaceutical Field 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.)
Results and Impact Talk sparked interest from several industries and which resulted in joint research being undertaken

An opportunity to promote the research to a wide range of people in the pharmaceutical industry
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2012
 
Description Invited presentation to Nanocolloid meeting, Amsterdam, Holland 'Rationale Design of Ternary Nanocomplexes for Gene Delivery' 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.)
Results and Impact Presentation stimulated considerable discussion afterwards and sparked at least two collaborations

Collaboration initiated between our group and that of Prof. Dganit Danino (Technicon, Isreal) around cryoelectron microscopy
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2012
 
Description Molecules, Membranes and Medicines 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Presented talk entitled 'Molecules, Membranes and Medicines: Where Are We Now?' (2015) to Science Technology Facilities Council Science Board, Swindon.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015
 
Description Schools visit (Bishop Wand School, Sunbury, Middlesex) RE lesson taken 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact Presentation greatly stimulated debate about gene therapy amongst the students (aged 14-16)

School reported back that the students has been challenged to think about things in a completely different way by the presentation
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2012
 
Description Swedish Chemical Society 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact 'Gene Delivery and the Interaction of DNA with Biomembranes: Neutron and X-Ray Scattering' (2014) Realizing Reformulation - A Symposium on Surface and Materials Chemistry, Swedish Chemical Society, Lund, Sweden.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2014