Projects / Programmes
Development of a web based application for an interactive learning and planning of electroporation based therapies and treatments
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 2.06.07 |
Engineering sciences and technologies |
Systems and cybernetics |
Biomedical technics |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| B140 |
Biomedical sciences |
Clinical physics, radiology, tomography, medical instrumentation |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 2.06 |
Engineering and Technology |
Medical engineering
|
electroporation, numerical modeling, electrochemotherapy, gene therapy, DNA vaccination, transdermal drug delivery
Researchers (1)
| no. |
Code |
Name and surname |
Research area |
Role |
Period |
No. of publicationsNo. of publications |
| 1. |
27964 |
PhD Selma Čorović |
Electric devices |
Head |
2011 - 2013 |
121 |
Organisations (1)
Abstract
Electroporation is a phenomenon of cell membrane permeability increase due to local delivery of short and intense electric pulses to target cells and tissues. Using electroporation, molecules (such as chemotherapeutic drugs, DNA or other therapeutic molecules) to which the cell plasma membrane is otherwise impermeable can be introduced into the cells. Due to its efficiency, this method is widely used for various applications in biology, medicine and biotechnology. In the proposed project we will focus on the electroporation based applications that are currently most widely used in clinics and biomedical research such as electrochemotherapy, gene transfer and transdermal drug delivery.
In clinical settings electroporation is used as an established approach for treatment of solid cutaneous and subcutaneous tumors. Since the definition of the standard operating procedures for clinical tumor treatment in 2006 the number of treated patients with electrochemotherapy has rapidly increased from 300 in 2007 in 37 clinical centers to 2000 patients in 2010 in 90 clinical centers over the Europe.
Numerous research studies report that the gene therapy and DNA vaccination based on electroporation hold a great promise for practical use in clinical settings. The interest for the transdermal drug delivery based on electroporation also rapidly increases, due to the fact that this delivery route represents noninvasive alternative to widely used invasive hypodermic needle and a way to avoid first pass metabolism that can present a problem in oral dosage forms.
The success therapy of electroporation-based treatment outcome depends on the target tissue electroporation level, which requires the appropriate selection of electoporation parameters and sufficiently high local electric field within the target cells and tissues. The local electric field distribution can be controlled by the following parameters: applied voltage on the electrodes, the shape and size of electrodes, distance between electrodes, placement of electrodes with respect to the target tissue and contact surface between the treated tissue and the electrode. The local electric field is influenced also by the properties of the target cells and tissues. Another condition that has to be met for the success of electroporation-based treatment is that a sufficient amount of the administered extracellular agent has to be present in the target tissue when the electric pulses are applied. Realistic numerical models that are based on theoretical and experimental knowledge are valuable tool in prediction of electroporation-based therapies and treatments outcome. The realistic numerical models developed so far do not include the modeling of molecular transport into the target tissues. Similarly, they do not take into account anisotropic conductivity changes due to the electroporation.
The treatment planning and performing a successful electrochemotherapy, gene transfer or transdermal drug delivery requires collaboration and knowledge exchange between experts from diverse scientific backgrounds.
The objectives of the fist part of the proposed project are: 1. development of 3D realistic numerical models that will allow modeling of tissue anisotropic conductivity changes due to the electroporation; 2. the modeling of the molecular transport into the target tissue/cells. The knowledge acquired with the realistic numerical models will be included into the e-leaning content of a web-based application that we will develop in the second part of the project to assure an interactive personalized learning and knowledge transfer and exchange among the experts involved in development and planning of electroporation based therapies and treatments.
Significance for science
The results, we obtained with our realistic numerical models, can significantly contribute to understanding and further development of therapies and treatments that are based on electroporation. The interactive web-based e-learning application, we developed within the research project provides knowledge transfer and knowledge exchange among the experts from different scientific fields such as medicine biology, chemistry, pharmacy, physics, electrotechnical and computer engineering - the fields that are involved in development and planning of electroporation based therapies and treatments.
Significance for the country
Results of our numerical modeling and web-based e-learning application may significantly contribute to the development of clinical electrochemotherapy of cutaneous and subcutaneous tumors and to the translation of electrochemotherapy of deep-seeted tumors such brain or liver tumor into clinical settings. Our results also contribute to the development of gene transfer and transdermal drug delivery and to establishing gene therapy and DNA vaccination for the treatment of several as yet incurable diseases. Since the research of the proposed project was performed at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, we contributed to the transfer of the acquired knowledge to the educational process. The results acquired within the project were presented at scientific conferences and published in SCI-ranked journals, which contribute to the further increase in scientific prominence of the research group, as well as of the Republic of Slovenia as a whole. Our results were presented at the international workshop and postgraduate course on electroporation at and its applications, organised by our research group at University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Electrical Engineering. An improved understanding of electrochemotherapy, gene transfer and transdermal drug delivery can significantly contribute to the use and translation of electroporation based therapies and treatments in clinical settings. The therapies based on electroporation can contribute to the treatment of several incurable diseases.
Most important scientific results
Annual report
2011,
2012,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Annual report
2011,
2012,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
