Award details

Understanding modification of biological surfaces using polymer coating: mathematical and experimental models

Reference	BB/C508618/1
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Professor S Chapman
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors	Professor Leonard Seymour
Institution	University of Oxford
Department	Mathematical Institute
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	97,099
Status	Completed
Type	Research Grant
Start date	01/02/2005
End date	31/01/2007
Duration	24 months

Abstract

The objective of the work undertaken in this proposal is to build suitable mathematical models to help in understanding the polymer coating of biological surfaces. Such coating strategies offer great promise in their application to viral vectors which are used in the treatment of diseases such as cancer, gene disorders and infectious diseases. Polymers developed for these virus coating studies carry one or more reactive esters that react irreversibly to lysine residues on the virus surface. The polymer layer can shield the virus against antibodies by direct obstruction of target epitopes containing lysine residues or indirectly through steric hindrance of adjacent epitopes. The completeness of the polymer layer around the surface of the virus is likely to depend on variables in polymer construction such as polymer length, polymer attachment configuration to the receptor surface, density of surface receptors, steric effect and co-operative binding. The coating reaction is itself also self limiting since polymers bound to the virus surface will restrict entry of additional polymers in solution. Discrete and continuum mathematical models will be constructed to help in understanding the various factors which affect polymer coating of the virus surface, thereby seeking to identify the optimal polymer constructs for surface coating. The initial mathematical model will be based upon the constructed experimental model consisting of a 2-D lysine receptor grid. Results from the mathematical model will be tested using data from the experimental system, allowing further refinement and improvement of the model. Experimental data will consist of estimates of the overall effective coverage of the receptor surface by the polymers as well as imaging of the coated surface. The results of the modelling and experimental work undertaken on the 2-D receptor surface will be extended to understand the coating of an individual virus particle. Finally, the mathematical models will be used tounderstand the coating of virus particles in a polymer suspension.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Engineering & Biological Systems (EBS)
Research Topics	X – not assigned to a current Research Topic
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

I accept the terms and conditions of use (opens in new window)

export PDF file

back to list new search