A bioinspired mucociliary clearance system based on mucin-mimetic supramolecular glycopolymers and artificial magnetic cilia for human airway stents

• Grant number: 22/14809-5
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: December 01, 2023
• End date: November 30, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Physical-Chemistry
• Agreement: Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO)
• Principal Investigator: Watson Loh
• Grantee: Watson Loh
• Principal researcher abroad: Roxanne Kieltyka
• Institution abroad: Universiteit Leiden, Netherlands
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Caio Gomide Otoni ; Cristiane Yumi Koga Ito ; Fabio Gava Aoki ; Fernanda Degobbi Tenorio Quirino dos Santos Lopes ; Jeroen Codee ; Leon Abelmann ; Massimo Mastrangeli ; Paulo Francisco Guerreiro Cardoso
• Associated scholarship(s): 25/09619-0 - Development of an airflow device for the quantitative analysis of the transport of biological fluids in tracheal stents., BP.TT; 25/01676-5 - FUNCTIONAL ASSESSMENT OF SILICONE CYLINDRICAL IMPLANTS WITH MAGNETIC CILIA FOR SELF- MUCOCILIARY CLEARENCE, BP.TT; 24/15295-0 - A bioinspired mucociliary clearance system based on mucin-mimetic supramolecular glycopolymers and artificial magnetic cilia for human airway stents, BP.PD

Abstract

The major innate defence system of the airways is mucociliary clearance. To move mucus unidirectionally out of the airways, the cilia, micrometre-long hair-like projections on airway epithelial cells, embedded in the periciliary layer, a dense mucin glycopolymer network, beat in a metachronal manner. Inspired by this biological example, we will develop synthetic mimics of the functional components involved in mucociliary clearance based on mucin-inspired supramolecular glycopolymers and artificial magnetic cilia that can be activated by an external magnetic field. We will explore the synergy between these synthetic components on the movement of mucus out of a tubular configuration for its eventual use in tracheal stents that consist solely of silicone-based tubings. The upgrade of these medical devices to an active, biomimetic platform is anticipated to reduce biofilm formation and infection due to the regenerable surfaces provided by the supramolecular polymers and beating of the artificial cilia through their magnetic actuation. The highly interdisciplinary nature of the proposal and matched expertise of the consortium on the Brazilian and Dutch sides with support from medical centres and a non-profit organization will facilitate the development of this bioinspired platform for mucociliary clearance from the molecular to the macroscale for tracheal health. (AU)