| Call | Mutual fund Taiwan – Latvia – Lithuania, 2017 |
| Implementation period | 02.01.2018. – 28.12.2020. |
| Project partners | National Taiwan University, Taiwan Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, Latvia State Research Institute Centre for Innovative Medicine, Lithuania |
| Leader of Latvian team | Dr.chem. Arkadijs Sobolevs |
| Total costs | 22 5000 USD |
| Costs for Latvian partner | 75000 USD |
Summary
The objective of the project is to develop an injectable biomimetic hybrid hydrogels carrying nanoparticles that contain chondrogenic differentiation stimulating substances, for the chondrogenesis and articular cartilage tissue engineering studies of human bone marrow mesenchymal stems (BM-MSC) and chondrocytes in combination with mechanical loading. Taiwan team will develop injectable biocompatible hydrogels based on the ECM components of articular cartilage. Chondrocytes or BM-MSC could proliferate and process chondrogenic differentiation in the biomimetic hydrogels, that also stick on cartilage tissue. Latvian team will develop liposomal and other types of nanoparticles that encapsulate chondrogenesis stimulating nanomolecules. The nanoparticles and hydrogels will be combined by the encapsulation of nanocarriers into the hydrogel with the purpose to promote chondrogenesis. Lithuania team will investigate the efficacy of the novel hydrogel/nanoparticle system for the chondrogenesis of BM-MSC or chondrocytes. The effect of dynamic mechanical loading on the outcome of the engineered articular cartilage tissue construct will be tested as well. We expect that the results of this proposal will lead to the development of conceptual model of efficient, minimally invasive and maximally effective therapeutic approach for OA treatment in the future.