PFI:AIR - TT: Accelerate wound healing via biomimetic protein therapy

这个PFI：加速创新研究（AIR）技术翻译（TT）项目专注于翻译受控药物输送技术，以满足更快更好的伤口愈合需求。控制生长因子的输送是很重要的，因为它使生长因子在体内保持更长的活性，从而加速伤口愈合，并可能减少疤痕的形成。该项目将产生一个伤口敷料的原型。这种敷料将保护生长因子的生物活性并控制其释放。这些特点提供了以下优势：与基于血小板衍生生长因子（PDGF）的领先竞争伤口敷料相比，加速伤口愈合，减少敷料更换频率，降低护理成本。此外，这种一次性疗法可以由患者或其家庭护理人员轻松使用，因此与需要专业处理的产品（如真空疗法）相比，降低了成本。该项目解决了从研究发现到商业应用的以下技术差距：1)破译控释系统组分之间的多价相互作用。2)了解如何利用离子相互作用调节释放动力学。3)在各种生物技术和生物医学应用中，可以保护多种蛋白质的生物活性的递送系统。这些差距将通过1)改变控释系统的多阳离子来弥补。2)调节受控运载工具的组成和生长因子的用量。3)在递送系统中使用肝素，从而控制释放超过200种肝素结合蛋白，包括肝素结合egf样生长因子、PDGF和成纤维细胞生长因子。此外，参与该项目的研究生和博士后将通过参加“从台式到床边”和“学术创业”课程以及匹兹堡大学大创意大赛获得技术翻译经验。

This PFI: Accelerating Innovation Research (AIR) Technology Translation (TT) project focuses on translating controlled drug delivery technology to fill the need for faster and better wound healing. The controlled delivery of growth factor is important because it keeps the growth factor active longer in the body so as to accelerate wound closure and potentially reduce scar formation as well. The project will result in a prototype of a wound dressing. This dressing will protect the bioactivity of growth factors and control their release. These features provide the following advantages: accelerated wound healing, reduced dressing changing frequency, reduced cost of care when compared to the leading competing wound dressing based on platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF). Furthermore, the one-time therapy can be easily used by patients or their family care givers, thus reducing cost compared to products that require professional handling such as vacuum therapy. This project addresses the following technology gaps as it translates from research discovery toward commercial application: 1) Deciphering the polyvalent interactions between the components of the controlled release system. 2) Knowledge on how to regulate the release kinetics using ionic interactions. 3) A delivery system that can protect the bioactivity of a wide range of proteins in various biotechnological and biomedical applications. These gaps will be bridged by 1) Varying the polycation of the controlled release system. 2) Adjusting the composition of the controlled delivery vehicle and the dosage of the growth factor. 3) Using heparin in the delivery system, thus allowing the controlled release of greater than 200 heparin binding proteins including heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor, PDGF and fibroblast growth factor. In addition, graduate students and post-docs involved in this project will receive technology translation experiences through participation in the "Benchtop to Bedside" and the "Academic Entrepreneurship" courses and University of Pittsburgh Big Idea Competition.