15 research outputs found
Cellular effects and delivery propensity of penetratin is influenced by conjugation to parathyroid hormone fragment 1-34 in synergy with pH
The
cell-penetrating peptide (CPP) penetratin has demonstrated
potential as a carrier for transepithelial delivery of cargo peptides,
such as the therapeutically relevant part of parathyroid hormone,
i.e., PTHÂ(1-34). The purpose of the present study was to elucidate
the relevance of pH for PTHÂ(1-34)–penetratin conjugates and
coadministered penetratin with PTHÂ(1-34) regarding transepithelial
permeation of PTHÂ(1-34) and cellular effects. Transepithelial permeation
was assessed using monolayers of the Caco-2 cell culture model, and
effects on Caco-2 cellular viability kinetics were evaluated by using
the Real-Time-GLO assay as well as by microscopy following Tryphan
blue staining. Morphological Caco-2 cell changes were studied exploiting
the impedance-based xCELLigence system as well as optically using
the oCelloscope setup. Finally, the effect of pH on the folding propensity
of the PTHÂ(1-34)–penetratin conjugate and its ability to disrupt
lipid membranes were assessed by circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy
and the calcein release assay, respectively. The transepithelial PTHÂ(1-34)
permeation was not pH-dependent when applying the coadministration
approach. However, by applying the conjugation approach, the PTHÂ(1-34)
permeation was significantly enhanced by lowering the pH from 7.4
to 5 but also associated with a compromised barrier and a lowering
of the cellular viability. The negative effects on the cellular viability
following cellular incubation with the PTHÂ(1-34)–penetratin
conjugate were moreover confirmed during real-time monitoring of the
Caco-2 cell viability as well as by enhanced Tryphan blue uptake.
In addition, morphological changes were primarily observed for cells
incubated with the PTHÂ(1-34)–penetratin conjugate at pH 5,
which was moreover demonstrated to have an enhanced membrane permeating
effect following lowering of the pH from 7.4 to 5. The latter observation
was, however, not a result of better secondary folding propensity
at pH 5 when compared to pH 7.4
Social labs as temporary intermediary learning organizations to help implement complex normative policies. The case of Responsible Research and Innovation in European science governance
This study aims to discuss science governance in Europe and the network of associated nonprofit institutions. The authors posit that this network, which comprises both (partial) learning organizations and non-learning organizations, has been observed to postpone taking up “responsibility” as an issue in science governance and funding decisions
The social lab as a method for experimental engagement in participatory research
How does the Social Lab methodology support participatory
research? This paper provides an evidence-based analysis of experiences of 19 implemented Social Labs applying experiential learning cycles on the question of how to induce Responsible Research and Innovation in the Horizon2020 research funding scheme of the European Commission and beyond. It looks at the potentials of Social Labs to allow participation in research and innovation addressing societal challenges and contrasts empirical results with the theoretical conceptualisation of a scientific Social Lab methodology. It discusses drivers and barriers of engagement, and provides evidence for the impacts of experimental engagement on participation in the context of the labs, substantiated by concrete examples from some of these labs
New HoRRIzon: D5.5 Actions and Activities to Realize RRI in Diversity of Approaches
This Deliverable tells about the journey of the Social Labs from their very beginning, in which we struggled to first get an understanding of the particular Funding Line of H2020 and tried to “diagnose” its uptake of RRI, continuing with the identification of our stakeholders and our attempt to incentivize them to participate in the Social Labs. In this Deliverable, we explain which methods we used in our Social Lab Workshops to raise and discuss the question of responsibility in research and innovation and to generate ideas for Pilot Actions, which experiences we made with these group methods and, most importantly, which Pilot Actions the Social Lab participants created, developed, changed and implemented in order to realize their ambitions of RRI and a responsible research and innovation system