| EPSRC Reference: |
GR/M36526/02 |
| Title: |
SYNTHESIS AND EVALUATION OF A SMART DRUG-CARRYING VITREOUS SUBSTITUTE |
| Principal Investigator: |
Rimmer, Professor S |
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| Project Partners: |
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| Department: |
Chemistry |
| Organisation: |
University of Sheffield |
| Scheme: |
Standard Research (Pre-FEC) |
| Starts: |
01 October 2000 |
Ends: |
31 July 2002 |
Value (£): |
95,405
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| No relevance to Underpinning Sectors |
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
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The treatment of complex retinal detachment and related eye conditions currently features a combination of a vitreous substitute and intravitreal drug therapy. Failure inevitably leads to a profound loss of vision. The causes of failure include ineffective drug levels inside the eye and the unsuitability of current materials for prolonged use of vitreous substitutes.This project will result in the synthesis of a 'smart' block copolymer prodrug with drug(s) attached via biodegradable peptide spacers. The polymers will be suitable for use as a long-term vitreous substitute and will possess long-term biocompatibility with a capacity for sustained intravitreal drug delivery. The copolymer will be easily injectable below physiological temperature, but once in the eye, because of its 'smart' temperature responsive behaviour, it will form a gel. Biodegradation of the peptide side chains will result in sustained drug release and lead to the maintenance of therapeutic intravitreal drug levels. Satisfactory techniques for the evaluation of a drug-carrying vitreous substitute do not as yet exist. Therefore, it will be necessary to develop new models early in the project. With this in mind, the programme will develop new methods to evaluate the novel vitreous substitutes using current materials as bench marks.
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Key Findings |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
| Summary |
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| Date Materialised |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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| Project URL: |
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| Further Information: |
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| Organisation Website: |
http://www.shef.ac.uk |