Team:Imperial College London

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Revision as of 11:12, 6 August 2009

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You are provided with this team page template with which to start the iGEM season. You may choose to personalize it to fit your team but keep the same "look." Or you may choose to take your team wiki to a different level and design your own wiki. You can find some examples HERE.

You MUST have a team description page, a project abstract, a complete project description, and a lab notebook. PLEASE keep all of your pages within your teams namespace.

You can write a background of your team here. Give us a background of your team, the members, etc. Or tell us more about something of your choosing.

Creating ‘The E.ncapsulator’: in situ manufacture and oral delivery of human biopharmaceuticals

This year the Imperial College iGEM team project involves developing an innovative, self-contained drug fabrication and delivery system. We have focused on designing and engineering a number of modules for implementation in Escherichia coli to allow the manufacture of important biopharmaceuticals and the creation of E.ncapsulator tablets for oral delivery and release of protein-based drugs to the small intestine.

Our innovative approach incorporates a number of re-usable modular features including protein drug production, self-encapsulation and genomic neutralisation. Utilising the Escherichia coli bacterium, we are creating a re-usable chassis that will allow the development of a range of biopharmaceuticals to be delivered to the gut. The E.ncapsulator provides an elegant solution to a range of human ailments and conditions which cannot currently be successfully treated by oral drugs.

The first module involves engineering E. coli to synthesise the protein drug of interest to a tuneable threshold. Once accomplished, activation of module two initiates the encapsulation phase, in which E. coli coats itself in a protective layer of colanic acid to form The E.ncapsulator. This protective capsule shields the biopharmaceutical against the harsh acidic environment of the stomach. The third module, genomic neutralisation, is composed of a ‘suicide trigger’ mechanism that destroys the genetic material of the bacteria. Finally, once in the small intestine, the capsule will be degraded releasing the designed biopharmaceutical to the gut micro biota where it can carry out its intended function.

The self-encapsulation of a synthetic biology chassis is new to iGEM and represents a completely novel and innovative approach to biopharmaceutical design, manufacture and delivery. Throughout the project we have followed an engineering approach that incorporates modular design, detailed modelling and simulation and systematic integration. Using such an approach has led to The E.ncapsulator coming soon to a Pharmacy near you!

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-''Tell us more about your project.  Give us background.  Use this is the abstract of your project.  Be descriptive but concise (1-2 paragraphs)''
+==Creating ‘The E.ncapsulator’: in situ manufacture and oral delivery of human biopharmaceuticals==
+This year the Imperial College iGEM team project involves developing an innovative, self-contained drug fabrication and delivery system. We have focused on designing and engineering a number of modules for implementation in Escherichia coli to allow the manufacture of important biopharmaceuticals and the creation of E.ncapsulator tablets for oral delivery and release of protein-based drugs to the small intestine.<br>
+Our innovative approach incorporates a number of re-usable modular features including protein drug production, self-encapsulation and genomic neutralisation. Utilising the Escherichia coli bacterium, we are creating a re-usable chassis that will allow the development of a range of biopharmaceuticals to be delivered to the gut.  The E.ncapsulator provides an elegant solution to a range of human ailments and conditions which cannot currently be successfully treated by oral drugs.<br>
+The first module involves engineering E. coli to synthesise the protein drug of interest to a tuneable threshold. Once accomplished, activation of module two initiates the encapsulation phase, in which E. coli coats itself in a protective layer of colanic acid to form The E.ncapsulator. This protective capsule shields the biopharmaceutical against the harsh acidic environment of the stomach. The third module, genomic neutralisation, is composed of a ‘suicide trigger’ mechanism that destroys the genetic material of the bacteria. Finally, once in the small intestine, the capsule will be degraded releasing the designed biopharmaceutical to the gut micro biota where it can carry out its intended function.<br>
+The self-encapsulation of a synthetic biology chassis is new to iGEM and represents a completely novel and innovative approach to biopharmaceutical design, manufacture and delivery. Throughout the project we have followed an engineering approach that incorporates modular design, detailed modelling and simulation and systematic integration. Using such an approach has led to The E.ncapsulator coming soon to a Pharmacy near you!
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