This project aims to improve treatments for heart disease by finding unique markers on the surface of different types of heart cells. Such markers are needed to help guide new advanced therapies, including RNA-based medicines being developed by REACT, directly to the right cells.
This will support the development of safer, more effective, and more targeted therapies for patients.
Cardiac deliveryIn depth
Heart disease is a complex condition that necessitates targeted drug delivery to specific cell types. To achieve this, a comprehensive understanding of the cell surface proteome and its receptor landscape is crucial. While RNA therapeutics hold immense promise for cardiovascular disease, significant challenges remain, including efficient drug delivery, precise target specificity, and long-term safety.
To address these challenges, this project aims to map the surface proteome of heart-specific cell lines and primary tissue. By identifying unique, cell-specific receptors and transmembrane domains, we can facilitate the development of targeted drug delivery strategies utilising RNA therapeutics and improve the efficacy of heart disease treatments.
Additionally, spatial proteomics and MALDI imaging of lipid distribution will deepen our understanding of the spatial organisation of the heart proteome, extracellular matrix, and lipidome at single-cell resolution. This will provide new information that will support the development of targeted therapeutics.