gms | German Medical Science

2. Joint Digital Symposium

German-West African Centre for Global Health and Pandemic Prevention (G-WAC)

09.10. - 12.10.2023, online

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Construction of bioresponsive membranotropic proteins to permeabilize the endosomal membrane

Meeting Abstract

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  • presenting/speaker F. A. Escalona-Rodríguez - Center for Protein Studies, University of Havana, Havana, Cuba; University Laboratory of Nanobiotechnology and Cancer, Havana, Cuba
  • J. La O-Bonet - University Laboratory of Nanobiotechnology and Cancer, Havana, Cuba; Department of Biochemistry, University of Havana, Havana, Cuba
  • L. Ballel - Institute of Materials Science of Barcelona (ICMAB) of CSIC, Barcelona, Spain
  • L. Ferrer - Institute of Materials Science of Barcelona (ICMAB) of CSIC, Barcelona, Spain
  • A. Rivero - Center for Protein Studies, University of Havana, Havana, Cuba; University Laboratory of Nanobiotechnology and Cancer, Havana, Cuba
  • B. Sánchez - Department of Biochemistry, University of Havana, Havana, Cuba
  • N. Ventosa - Institute of Materials Science of Barcelona (ICMAB) of CSIC, Barcelona, Spain
  • B. Seliger - Institut für Medizinische Immunologie, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Germany
  • M. E. Lanio - Center for Protein Studies, University of Havana, Havana, Cuba; University Laboratory of Nanobiotechnology and Cancer, Havana, Cuba

German-West African Centre for Global Health and Pandemic Prevention (G-WAC). 2. Joint Digital Symposium. sine loco [digital], 09.-12.10.2023. Düsseldorf: German Medical Science GMS Publishing House; 2023. DocG-WAC23_03a

doi: 10.3205/23gwac08, urn:nbn:de:0183-23gwac089

Published: November 28, 2023

© 2023 Escalona-Rodríguez et al.
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License. See license information at http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.

Outline

Text

The field of biomedicine is on a revolutionary shift towards non-viral delivery systems, promising innovative approaches to disease treatment that could transform healthcare systems worldwide. While these systems offer potential benefits, their efficacy remains a significant concern. One of the major roadblocks is the challenge of ensuring efficient endosomal escape before the payloads are degraded within the endosomal-lysosome degradative machinery. This research project focuses on the engineering of membranotropic proteins to enhance endosomal escape within non-viral delivery systems. The central premise is to engineer these proteins in a way that allows for fine-tuned regulation of their activity in response to the local microenvironment, such as variations in pH or redox potential. By incorporating these modified proteins into non-viral delivery systems, we aim to improve their endosomal escape capabilities, thereby enhancing the overall efficacy of these systems for therapeutic applications.

Enhanced delivery systems have the potential to revolutionize the accessibility, affordability and efficacy of disease treatments and thus, healthcare in general. By reducing the dosage required for treatments, the cost burden on healthcare systems could be alleviated, making advanced therapies more widely available. Moreover, the development of more efficient delivery methods could foster international collaborations and reduce the disparities in healthcare access and outcomes, thus contributing to the overall well-being of communities and nations. Research into non-viral delivery systems has the potential to not only propel the field of biomedicine forward, but also, to initiate dialogues and conversations that may influence the future of healthcare and medicine.