Academic Inventions through Academic Inventions through Multidisciplinary Collaborations Multidisciplinary Collaborations between Weill Cornell Medical between Weill Cornell Medical College and Ithaca CampusesCollege and Ithaca Campuses

Bo LiuDivision of Vascular Surgery

Translate inventions in material science toTranslate inventions in material science tonovel treatments for vascular diseases.novel treatments for vascular diseases.

Vascular Surgeons

Material Scientists Vascular Biologists

Clinical problems

Experimental hypotheses

Mat

erial

inve

ntion

s

*

HN

HC

O O

NH

H2N NH2

C

O

O O C

OHC

HN

NH

H2N NH2

*x y

PEA polymer

Project I: DNA Carriers Project I: DNA Carriers

Problem: Lack of safe and efficient DNA/RNA carriers for molecular therapy.

Hypothesis: Newly invented PEA polymers are capable of binding DNA and delivering it to vascular cells and tissues.

Cornell University Seed Grant (Liu & Chu)

11/1/06-10/31/07Novel biodegradable biomaterials as non-viral gene transfer systems.

15 μg PEI

Control – no transfectionControl – no transfection

SMCSMC

15 μg PEA 1,500 μg PEA

15 μg Superfect®

CytotoxicityCytotoxicity

unhealthy

healthy

Cytotoxicity: Cell ViabilityCytotoxicity: Cell ViabilityH

igh

er %

, mor

e ce

ll f

rien

dly

Transfection Efficiency in SMCTransfection Efficiency in SMC

Firefly

0.0E+00

5.0E+04

1.0E+051.5E+05

2.0E+05

2.5E+05

3.0E+053.5E+05

4.0E+05

4.5E+05

SF 2-A-6E-Cl-100

2-A-6E-Cl-200

2-A-6E-Cl-500

2-A-6E-Cl-1K 2-A-6E-Cl-2K

RLU/mg

Chu’s PEA samplesCommercial reagent

SMC Transfection by DNA Encoded with SMC Transfection by DNA Encoded with Green Fluorescence ProteinGreen Fluorescence Protein

Outcome: grant proposalsOutcome: grant proposals

NIH R21/R33 submitted on 9/16/07Novel biodegradable polymers as non-viral gene transfer systems.Liu, Kent, Rafii, and Chu

The Uehara Memorial Foundation (Japan)Research Fellowship----- 1/01/08 to 12/31/09Yamanochi

Outcome: publicationOutcome: publication

Transfection of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells with Novel Biodegradable Arginine Based Poly(ester-amide)s

Dai Yamanouchi, M.D., Ph.D.,1, Jun Wu,2, Andrew Lazar,1, K Craig Kent, MD.,1, Chih-Chang Chu, Ph.D.,2, Bo Liu, Ph.D.1.

1. Weill Medical College; 2. Cornell University

Submitted to Molecular Therapy

Project II: Tissue engineering of blood vesselsProject II: Tissue engineering of blood vessels

Problem: Synthetic arterial grafts fail due to restenosis.

Approach: Using biodegradable materials as scaffold to generate blood vessels ex vivo or in vitro.

Morgan Seed Grant (Chu, Peinhart-King, Liu, and Kent)7/1/07-12/31/08Novel biodegradable scaffolds for tissue engineering of blood vessels.

Chu: Human Ecology

Synthesis of PEA-based biodegradable and biofunctional elastomeric scaffolds

Reinhart-King: BME In vitro

engineering of scaffolds & cell adhesion study using vascular

cells

Liu/Kent: Weill Medical Optimization using

stem-cell mediated healing to enhance success of engineered grafts

Liu/Kent: Weill Medical In vivo animal model &

implantation

Feedback for optimization of design

parameters

Future PlanFuture Plan

NIH: PAR-06-504 (R01)Enabling Technologies for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine Projected submission date: 9/10/08

Industry grants

Patents

Vascular Surgery LabK. Craig Kent, MDBo Liu, PhD

Rachel EldenBrad Herman, PhDKaori Kato, MDRishi Kundi, MDSebastian Schuble, MDShirling Tsai, MDChunjie WangDai Yamanouchi, MD, PhDFan Zhang, MD, PhDAndrew Zohlman

Department of Surgery

Research and Sponsored ProgramCaren A Heller, MD

Cornell Intercampus Seed GrantMorgan Seed grant

IthacaC.C. Chu, PhD

Hua Song, PhDJun Wu