Dr. Alina Sionkowska
Faculty of Chemistry, NCU Toruń
as@chem.uni.torun.pl
1. Dr. Timothy Wess, University of Stirling, Scotland,
and University of Cardiff, UK
The Centre for Extracellular Matrix Biology headed by Dr.Tim
Wess at the University of Stirling is an internationally recognised
research team investigating collagen fibrillar structure and molecular packing
in relation to fundamental biochemical properties. The recently formed of CEMB by Dr Wess will provide a framework of
support for Dr Sionkowska and we are confident
that the synergy between the two research groups will provide
significant added value.
In each case of
our mutual project the biochemical properties of modified collagen and the
physical properties will be investigated. This will aim to relate the changes
in collagen crosslinking and potential bond scission to the alterations in
structure that can be observed by electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction.
Studies will be carried out with different irradiation wavelengths and
analysis of the spectometric properties
of the molecule, including FT-IR and fluorescence.
The
project will use collagen type I and
type I/ III based tissues typically rat
tail tendon and rat skin. The choice of samples is limited in order to focus
the effects of UV irradiation on the main collagen types found in animals.
2. Prof. Allen Bailey, Dr. Chris Miles, Collagen Research
Group,
University of Bristol, UK.
Collagen
Research Group headed by Prof. Allen J. Bailey at the University of
Bristol is an internationally recognised research team investigating collagen
thermal stability and collagen structure
in relation to fundamental biochemical properties. The recently formed collaboration by Dr. Sionkowska will
provide a framework of support new project about “Photoageing of skin
components: collagen, elastin and fibroblasts”.
Satellite
studies show an increasing flux of UV radiation reaching the earth’s surface
and we might expect as a result an increasing burden of skin photoageing and
photodegradation of materials. The aim of the future project is
to improve understanding of the effect of UV exposure on skin components
in order to improve the quality of live of and health of EU citizens. It is
necessary to improve knowledge of the mechanism of harmful effect of UV by studying the direct damage of UV on the
skin collagen and materials made of collagen and elastin. The project will
investigate the efficacy of specific radical scavengers and anti-oxidants to
inhibit radiation damage. The project will also aim to identify biochemical
markers of UV irradiation, providing a basis for development of effective
measures.
3. Prof. Peter
Winlove, Biomedical Physics Group, University of Exeter, UK
Professor
Peter Winlove is Head of the Biomedical
Physics Group, whose primary research activities concern the physical
properties of extracellular matrix and its constituent macromolecules, in
particular elastin.
Elastin
is one of the connective tissue constituents mostly affected by age. This
molecule is largely responsible for the elasticity of tissues such as blood
vessels, lung and skin, and it undergoes with time irreversible degradative
changes without being efficiently replaced. While collagen fibres can be synthesised
throughout life, elastic fibres are synthesised only during development and
growth, by smooth muscle cells in blood vessels and by fibroblasts in skin.
Elastic tissue is thus characterised by ongoing loss
of elastic fibre function within the tissues, due to fixation of lipids and
calcium and continual degradation of elastic fibres -beside an increase of
collagen fibres- which is not counterbalanced by elastic fibre neosynthesis. The
most spectacular manifestation of ageing is the changes that occur in skin. The
formation of wrinkles is caused by the progressive degradation of elastic
fibres. The functional consequence is the loss of tissue elasticity. In
addition to the problem of wrinkles which affect everybody during ageing, the
occurrence of solar elastosis characterised by an intense deposition of elastic
fibers in unprotected UV irradiated skin is not understood at all. In our
mutual project we will study the effect of UV radiation on physico-chemical
properties of elastin.
4. Prof. Enrico Marsano. Prof. Enrico Pedemonte, Department of Chemistry
and Industrial Chemistry, University of Genoa, Italy
Both,
Prof. Marsano and Prof. Pedemonte work with polymer blend and grafting of synthetic
polymers on the surface of natural polymers. Collagen and synthetic polymer
blends may have interesting biological properties . This fact brings us to the
important question of how synthetic and collagen interacts with each other.
Indeed, the answers to this question should allow the consideration of two
aspects. One concerns the use of synthetic polymer in association with collagen
to prepare new biomaterials. The other is related with the incidence of the
implantation of polymer in living media. In particular, in mammals where
collagen is the most abundant protein, but also where synthetic polymer is
always absent.
The project brings together a novel indesciplinary
grouping of leading researchers which is necessary in seeking to establish both
nature of intermolecular crosslinking and properties of the blends.
Innovative
aspects of the proposal are to design and study the new materials based on the
blends of collagen and synthetic polymer.
5. Prof, Lars-Ake Linden, Prof.
Jan F. Rabek, Department of Dental Biomaterials, Karolinska Institutet,
Stockholm, Sweden.
Prof. Linden
is a dentist, head of Department of Dental Biomaterial, whose primary research
activities concern the kinetic of photopolymerization of monomers applied in
dentistry. Our mutual collaboration is on the base of Photo Differential
Scanning Calorimeter, that allows us to calculate the rate of polymerisation
and conversion degree of monomers (two very important factors in dentistry).
Prof. Rabek is
a photochemist, head of Polymer Research Group in Karolonska Institutet.
6. Prof. Diego Mantovani, Faculty
of Biomaterials, Laval University, Quebec, Kanada
Prof. Mantovani is an expert in study the mechanical,
thermal and physico-chemical properties of biomaterials. His knowledge about
polymeric materials and technology is very useful in this mutual project.
The aim of this project is design new
bioartificial polymeric biomaterials based on the blends of natural and
synthetic polymers. The miscibility of the two components and the nature of the
intermolecular linkage between natural and synthetic polymer will be
established . The mechanical and
photochemical properties of the blends will be studied using FTIR, UV-VIS, DSC, viscosimetry, contact angle measurements,
Instron, AFM.
Collagen and chitin are amongst
the most abundant polymers in life.
They both have intrinsic properties that provide a strong but manipulable scaffolding structure
in many multi-cellular organisms. Collagen and chitosan (a more soluble
derivative of chitin) do not exist together as blends in nature , but the
specific properties of each may be used to produce man made blends that confer
unique structural and mechanical properties.
7. Prof. Anka Letic-Gavrilovic, Faculty of Medicine,
University „La Sapienza”,
Roma, Italy
Prof.
Dr. Anka Letic-Gavrilovic is a faculty research member in the Department
of Biochemistry "A. Rossi-Fanelli, Universitŕ La Sapienza" Roma,
Italy
Targeted the complexation of synthetic
and/or natural polymers with
protein-derived growth factors to set-up a new tissue-engineered multy-functional products that are successful in three-dimensional tissue
regeneration as being biologically active, biodegradable, heterogenous, anisotropic structures. The
research activity will include highly inovative technological processes and
biomaterials. Creating implantable
device will comprehend previous experiences and new expected results for
modelling a new hybrid biomaterial(s) for bone and other tissue generation.
Special nano-technologies for ceramic/metal
coatings, natural and
synthetic-based polymers will be used
to optimize the material’s morphological development and consequent mechanical
and degradation behaviour and to tailor their in vivo performances.
8. Prof. Mohamed El-Batanouny, Faculty of Medicine &
National Institute of Laser Enhanced Sciences Cairo University, Egypt
Prof. Butanouny is interested in
interaction of UV radiation and laser radiation with living cells. Recently
laser therapy has become a popular modality in medicine as a therapeutic tool.
Laser can produce bioeffects by modulating biochemichal, physiological and
proliferative phenomena in various enzymes, cells and tissue. Low power laser
has been used for treatment of variety of conditions such as wound healing , musculoskeletal
disorders and arthritic conditions. All
biostimulation effects of low power laser irradiation are based on the
interaction of laser light with biological systems; such interactions cause a
broad spectrum of effects. Injury of collagenous structures comprising
tendons and ligaments either from acute trauma or repetitive strain lesions
resulted in protracted period of disability. The resolution of such injuries
often fails to restore the normal morphologic and functional characteristics of
the structure and therefore, either compromises the future performance of
individual or predisposes to an increase risk of recurrent injury.
The
tensile strength of the tendon is related to both the amount of collagen
present and the arrangement of alignment of collagen fibers within the tendon.
After injury the tendon can regain its previous power only after the completion
of the remodeling that is depends on the activity of fibroblasts and collagen
fibrils produced by them.
Laser Biostimulation is useful modality
to enhance tendon healing as proved by biochemichal, histopathological and
ultra-structural studies.
In
our project we bring together the expertise on the effect
of UV radiation on collagen molecules in terms of their physical properties in
vitro, and that of expertise on UV and
laser irradiation (laser biostimulation) in vivo.
9. Prof. Rolf Reed, Department of Physiology, University of
Bergen, Norway
Professor Reed
is Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and heads the circulation physiology research
group at the Department of Physiology, University of Bergen, Norway. As a
research clinician he has applied physiological techniques to investigate the
microcirculation and interstitium for over 20 years. The purpose of this
research being to suggest therapeutic protocols for the prevention and
treatment of oedema and protocols to aid drug delivery in cancer treatment. In
our mutual project the group of Prof. Reed investigates the influence of UV
radiation on skin fibroblasts.
10. Dr. Christoph Richter, Plataforma Solar the Almeria,
Tabernas, Spain.
Dr. Christoph Richter , head of Solfin Facility on
Plataforma Solar de Almeria.
The main aim of our project is the application of low
concentrating collector systems, concretely of CPC type (Compound Parabolic
Collectors), showing good performance especially in the UV range to the solar
photochemical
reactions in collagen based biomaterials. Our cooperatin is supported by European
Commission. We use solar radiation for
photodegradation of polymeric materials and we compare the results with those
obtained in our lab by artificial source of UV.
11. PROF. Jale Yanik, EGE University, Izmir, Turkey.
Polymeric materials
12.
Dr. Navaratnam Suppiah, Dr. Ruth Edge, Daresbury Laboratory, UK,
under the European Commission's
"Transnational Access to Major Research Infrastructures - Enhancing Access
to Research Infrastructures - Human Potential Programme"
Photochemical reactions upon UV irradiation of collagen and the
reactions of collagen with reactive oxygen species.