Poelstra and colleagues receive HTRIC award for an innovative collaborative project on intestinal fibrosis

On February 6, 2024 the HTRIC Awards 2024 for innovative collaborations between medical and engineering groups were announced. The research proposal from Klaas Poelstra, Peter Olinga and Klaas Nico Faber (UMCG) was one of five selected for funding. Poelstra and colleagues will focus on intestinal fibosis, which is a common complication in chronic inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) like Crohn’s Disease and ulcerative colitis. It is a serious problem because intestinal fibrosis is difficult to diagnose and there is no effective therapy available. 

However, the intestine is easy to reach with nanoparticles, which offers excellent opportunities for therapy and diagnosis. Therefore, the team aim to design cell-specific nanoparticles that allow local release of diagnostic and therapeutic compounds in the intestinal wall. 

Lipid nanoparticles that are specifically taken up by intestinal key-pathogenic cells will be prepared and these will be loaded with a fluorescent label and experimental drugs. Cellular binding and uptake of these nanomedicines will be tested in vitro in various cells and tissue samples, with the aim to monitor cell activation and inhibit the disease process.

The HTRIC award ceremony:

Congratulations to Klaas, Peter and Klaas Nico, as well as the other awardees.