This proposal addresses the clinical need for more effective therapies to promote repair of chronic wounds. Deficits in vascular supply can lead to chronic ulceration and increase susceptibility to infection and ultimately to limb amputation. Biotherapies represent a promising class of drugs for jump starting endogenous wound repair processes. However, current clinical products such as platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) have only a modest impact on complete healing. We propose to engineer a transformative therapeutic approach for effective and safe delivery of therapeutic small interfering ribonucleic acids (siRNA) to impaired skin wounds. The proposed siRNA post- transcriptionally blocks translation of prolyl hydroxylase domain 2 (PHD2), an enzyme that negatively regulates stability of hypoxia inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF1?). PHD2 siRNA, as a result, stabilizes HIF1? and activates transcription of a host of related genes that exert positive effects on vascular growth, vessel maturation/stabilization, and stem cell recruitment. A recent publication from our team supports this concept, and we propose that translational therapeutic approaches for activation of HIF1? will stimulate more robust healing relative to current approaches that use a single growth factor with narrow bioactivity. Existing technologies for therapeutic delivery of siRNA consist of cationic lipids or polymers that are formulated into nanocarriers, an approach that can evoke nonspecific inflammatory effects. These collateral effects can limit translation into clinical use. The overall goal of this proposal is to engineer a clinically translatable (simple, effective, and safe), nanocarrier-free delivery system for substrate mediated delivery of PHD2 siRNA from a fully cell-degradable biomaterial that promotes tissue vascularization and repair. The proposed biomaterial will serve as both a cell-inductive, porous tissue template and a depot for sustained, controlled delivery of siRNA at the cell- biomaterial interface.
The first aim of the proposal is t synthesize siRNA conjugates for nanoparticle-free, scaffold- mediated delivery of siRNA and to test their effectiveness in vitro.
The second aim i s to characterize and optimize substrate-mediated siRNA delivery systems in vivo using mouse subcutaneous implant and diabetic rat excisional wound models. In addition to in vivo validation of our delivery platform, another key aspect of this aim is to explore the impact of the chemistry of the scaffolding itself (i.e., hydrolytically degradable versus cell degradable) on the effectiveness of substrate mediated PHD2 siRNA delivery and on wound outcomes.
The third aim i s to test our success at promoting vascularization and healing in the setting of highly compromised, ischemic wounds. We will first confirm bioactivity and optimize our delivery system in rats and then proceed to studies in pigs, which have thicker skin that better models human cutaneous anatomy and physiology. Successful completion of this aim in a well-accepted preclinical model will yield a technology poised for translation into a clinical wound therapy and will inform whether our therapeutic is most appropriate for diabetic and/or purely ischemic wound settings. Our interdisciplinary team includes two bioengineers, a pathologist, and a skin wound scientist and is well-positioned to design and translate innovative drug and device technologies for wound therapy.

Public Health Relevance

Impaired skin wound healing is a significant healthcare problem; chronic wounds are susceptible to infections which can lead to amputation of extremities. The best biological drug currently available fails to stimulate healing in over 50% of patients, so there is a significant need for improved treatments. The proposed project is focused on developing a new approach for local delivery of gene silencing short interfering RNA (siRNA) to promote new blood vessel formation and improve wound healing.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01EB019409-02
Application #
8934109
Study Section
Gene and Drug Delivery Systems Study Section (GDD)
Program Officer
Rampulla, David
Project Start
2014-09-25
Project End
2018-06-30
Budget Start
2015-07-01
Budget End
2016-06-30
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2015
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Department
Biomedical Engineering
Type
Biomed Engr/Col Engr/Engr Sta
DUNS #
004413456
City
Nashville
State
TN
Country
United States
Zip Code
37240
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