iGEM 2020 — Team KCL_UK

[![](https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2020/8/8b/HQ_page_logo.jpg)](https://2020.igem.org)

# Team:KCL UK/Notebook

[Renervate![Renervate spine logo](https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2020/5/53/T--KCL_UK--NavbarLogo.png)](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK)

[ ]

* [Home](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK)
* Team +
  Team
  [ ]
  + [Team Members](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Team)
  + [Attributions](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Attributions)
  + [Sponsors](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Sponsors)
  + [Collaborations](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Collaborations)
  + [Judging Form](https://igem.org/2020_Judging_Form?id=3635)
* Project +
  Project
  [ ]
  + [Contribution](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Contribution)
  + [Description](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Description)
  + Design +
    Design +
    [ ]
    - [Design Overview](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Design)
    - [Pathophysiology of SCI](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/SCI_Pathophysiology)
    - [Scaffold Design](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Scaffold_Design)
    - [Mussel Foot Proteins](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/MFP_Applications)
  + [Engineering](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Engineering)
* Parts +
  Parts
  [ ]
  + [Parts Overview](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Parts)
  + [Basic Parts](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/BasicParts)
  + [Composite Parts](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/CompositeParts)
* Model +
  Model
  [ ]
  + [Overview](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Model)
  + [Scaffold Modelling](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Scaffold_Model)
  + [PCL Degradation](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Degradation_Model)
  + [Structural Model](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Structural_Modelling)
* Proposed Implementation +
  Proposed Implementation
  [ ]
  + [Proposed Implementation](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Implementation)
  + [Entrepreneurship](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Entrepreneurship)
  + [Excellence](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Excellence)
* Human Practices +
  Human Practices
  [ ]
  + [Human Practices](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Human_Practices)
  + [Safety & Security](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Safety)
* Education & Inclusivity+
  Education & Inclusivity
  [ ]
  + [Inclusivity Research](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Inclusion)
  + [Education](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Education)
  + [Biologix Competition](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Biologix_Competition)

# Notebook

Document the dates you worked on your project. This should be a detailed account of the work done each day for your project.

### What should this page have?

* Chronological notes of what your team is doing.
* Brief descriptions of daily important events.
* Pictures of your progress.
* Mention who participated in what task.

### Inspiration

You can see what others teams have done to organize their notes:

* [2018 Munich](https://2018.igem.org/Team%3AMunich/Notebook)
* [2014 ATOMS-Turkiye](https://2014.igem.org/Team%3AATOMS-Turkiye/Notebook)
* [2014 Tec Monterrey](https://2014.igem.org/Team%3ATec-Monterrey/ITESM14_project.html#tab_notebook)
* [2014 Kyoto](https://2014.igem.org/Team%3AKyoto/Notebook/Magnetosome_Formation#title)
* [2014 Cornell](https://2014.igem.org/Team%3ACornell/notebook)

[![](https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2020/8/8b/HQ_page_logo.jpg)](https://2020.igem.org)

# Team:KCL UK/Engineering

[Renervate![Renervate spine logo](https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2020/5/53/T--KCL_UK--NavbarLogo.png)](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK)

[ ]

* [Home](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK)
* Team +
  Team
  [ ]
  + [Team Members](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Team)
  + [Attributions](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Attributions)
  + [Sponsors](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Sponsors)
  + [Collaborations](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Collaborations)
  + [Judging Form](https://igem.org/2020_Judging_Form?id=3635)
* Project +
  Project
  [ ]
  + [Contribution](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Contribution)
  + [Description](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Description)
  + Design +
    Design +
    [ ]
    - [Design Overview](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Design)
    - [Pathophysiology of SCI](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/SCI_Pathophysiology)
    - [Scaffold Design](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Scaffold_Design)
    - [Mussel Foot Proteins](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/MFP_Applications)
  + [Engineering](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Engineering)
* Parts +
  Parts
  [ ]
  + [Parts Overview](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Parts)
  + [Basic Parts](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/BasicParts)
  + [Composite Parts](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/CompositeParts)
* Model +
  Model
  [ ]
  + [Overview](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Model)
  + [Scaffold Modelling](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Scaffold_Model)
  + [PCL Degradation](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Degradation_Model)
  + [Structural Model](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Structural_Modelling)
* Proposed Implementation +
  Proposed Implementation
  [ ]
  + [Proposed Implementation](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Implementation)
  + [Entrepreneurship](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Entrepreneurship)
  + [Excellence](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Excellence)
* Human Practices +
  Human Practices
  [ ]
  + [Human Practices](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Human_Practices)
  + [Safety & Security](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Safety)
* Education & Inclusivity+
  Education & Inclusivity
  [ ]
  + [Inclusivity Research](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Inclusion)
  + [Education](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Education)
  + [Biologix Competition](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Biologix_Competition)

[Back to Top](#top)
[SCI Engineering](#sciengineering)
[Bioprinting Engineering](#bioprintingengineering)
[MFP Engineering](#mfpengineering)
[Design of Protocols](#protocols)
[Future Engineering Improvements](#futureengineeringimprovements)
[References](#references)

# Engineering Success

![](https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2020/0/0c/T--KCL_UK--cog.png)

## Spinal Cord Injury Engineering Success

The following flow chart demonstrates the Spinal Cord Injury Subgroups methodology in approaching the problem of understanding the microenvironment of the lesion and how we would apply our scaffolding in order to achieve axonal regrowth.

[![](https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2020/7/79/T--KCL_UK--sciengineeringflowmap2.png)](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/SCI_Pathophysiology)

## Bioprinting Engineering Success

The Bioprinting Engineering success served to demonstrate the different decisions we took whilst ensuring we were tackling and solving our project problems. We demonstrate how we integrated our research into our engineering design cycle to ultimately build and test our scaffold design through the use of relevant simulations.

[![](https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2020/7/75/T--KCL_UK--Eng6.png)

## MFP Engineering Success

The Mussel Foot Protein Engineering success flow map serves to demonstrate our engineering decisions we had to take, ensuring we were tackling and solving our project problems. We demonstrate how we integrated our research into our engineering design cycle to explore the engineering of our synthetic biology approach incorporating recombinant Mussel Foot Protein PvfP-5β.

[![](https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2020/6/6f/T--KCL_UK--mfpengineeringsuccess.png)](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/MFP_Applications)](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Scaffold_Design)

## Design of Protocols

We developed these protocols to demonstrate how we would design our experiments and evaluate the outcomes that may arise. We will implement these protocols next year in **Phase Two** to further validate our proposed implementation. In addition to designing our experiments, we have concluded how we would evaluate the outcomes, deal with unexpected results and planning further steps including in vivo studies.

A PDF handbook has been created for all our protocols.

#### Polymerisation Protocol

#### Purification Protocol

#### BCA Protocol

#### Demonstrating Axonal Outgrowth Protocol

## Future Engineering Improvements

### Drug Delivery System

Novel therapeutics research has mainly focused on the delivery of pharmacological compounds, known as Drug Delivery System (DDS). Drugs can be delivered systematically, affecting the whole body, or locally. Local delivery results in better achievements, as it represents a way to decrease side effects of drug toxicity as well as maximising the effectiveness of the treatment. The development of a successful drug delivery nanosystems results in the scaffold having beneficial neuro-protective and neuro-regenerative effects.

Because of properties such as nontoxicity and biodegradability, PCL has been very popular in the field of drug delivery. Numerous drugs have already been incorporated in PCL scaffold, in the form of nanoparticles or nanofibers. Although, current fabrication of a 3D printed porous scaffold including drug delivery system has not been developed. Taking this into account, if we were to include a DDS into our project some drugs which we would particularly investigate would be melatonin and dexamethasone acetate. Melatonin is a versatile hormone with many properties such as antioxidative, antiapoptotic, neuroprotective, and anti-inflammatory. Different studies have suggested the restoration of neurologic functions after SCI, involving mechanisms such as antioxidant effects, regulation of iNOS, inhibition of proinflammatory cytokines, blood vessel repair, restoration of the blood-brain barrier, inhibition of cell apoptosis, edema resistance and inhibition of cell autophagy. As well as melatonin, dexamethasone acetate it’s known to have neuroprotective effects by inhibiting lipid peroxidation and inflammation due to the reduction of cytokine release and expression. However, it has some limitations caused by its hydrophobicity, biocompatibility and numerous side effects if using large dosage.

### Implementation of Stem Cells

In order to further investigate axonal regrowth, stem cells can be implemented alongside our scaffold design. We have researched different stem cells, particularly mesenchymal (MSCs) and neural stem cells (NSCs). These are effective as MSCs are easy to isolate and do not raise any ethical concerns (Cofano et al.,2019), whilst NSCs show evidence of promoting neural differentiation and synaptogenesis in scaffoldings (Shrestha et al., 2014). You can learn more about the proposed implementation of both these stem cells in the [SCI Pathophysiology page.](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/SCI_Pathophysiology)

# References

* Angela Faccendini et al. (2017) ‘Nanofiber Scaffolds as Drug Delivery Systems to Bridge Spinal Cord Injury’, Pharmaceuticals, 10(4), p. 63. doi: 10.3390/ph10030063.
* Cofano, F., Boido, M., Monticelli, M., Zenga, F., Ducati, A., Vercelli, A., & Garbossa, D. (2019). Mesenchymal stem cells for spinal cord injury: Current options, limitations, and future of cell therapy. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 20(11), 2698.
* Shrestha, B., Coykendall, K., Li, Y., Moon, A., Priyadarshani, P., & Yao, L. (2014). Repair of injured spinal cord using biomaterial scaffolds and stem cells. Stem Cell Research & Therapy, 5(4), 91.
* Wang, Y. et al. (2017) ‘Effective improvement of the neuroprotective activity after spinal cord injury by synergistic effect of glucocorticoid with biodegradable amphipathic nanomicelles’, Drug Delivery, 24(1), pp. 391–401. doi: 10.1080/10717544.2016.1256003.
* Wong, B. S., Teoh, S.-H. and Kang, L. (2012) ‘Polycaprolactone scaffold as targeted drug delivery system and cell attachment scaffold for postsurgical care of limb salvage’, Drug Delivery and Translational Research, 2(4), pp. 272–283. doi: 10.1007/s13346-012-0096-9.
* Zhang, Y. et al. (2018) ‘Melatonin for the treatment of spinal cord injury’, Neural Regeneration Research, 13(10), p. 1685. doi: 10.4103/1673-5374.238603.

![](https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2020/9/93/T--KCL_UK--FleeceWhiteLogo.png)

Navigate

[Home](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK)
[Team Members](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Team)
[Project Description](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Description)
[Project Design](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Design)
[Model](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Model)
[Parts](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Parts)
[Proposed Implementation](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Proposed_Implementation)
[Human Practices](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Human_Practices)
[Inclusivity Research](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Inclusion)
[Science Communication](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Education)
[Biologix Competition](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Biologix)
[Judging Form](https://igem.org/2020_Judging_Form?id=3635)

![](https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2020/4/4e/T--KCL_UK--TeamPhoto.JPG)

[![](https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2020/5/5d/T--KCL_UK--Biologix.png)](https://biologixrenervate.wixsite.com/website)

Sponsors

[Promega](https://www.promega.co.uk/)
[SnapGene](https://www.snapgene.com/)
[Geneious](https://www.geneious.com/home/)
[Biochemical Society](https://www.biochemistry.org/)
[BMG Labtech](https://www.bmglabtech.com/)
[KCLSU](https://www.kclsu.org/)
[King's College London](https://www.kcl.ac.uk/)

![](https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2020/6/67/T--KCL_UK--Promega.png)

![](https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2020/7/79/T--KCL_UK--Snapgene.png)

![](https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2020/6/65/T--KCL_UK--Geneious.png)

![](https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2020/e/ec/T--KCL_UK--BMGlabtech.jpg)

![](https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2020/e/e1/T--KCL_UK--KCLSU.png)

![](https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2020/8/86/T--KCL_UK--KCL.png)

![](https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2020/0/00/T--KCL_UK--Biochemistry.jpg)

[![](https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2020/8/8b/HQ_page_logo.jpg)](https://2020.igem.org)

# Team:KCL UK/Experiments

[Renervate![Renervate spine logo](https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2020/5/53/T--KCL_UK--NavbarLogo.png)](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK)

[ ]

* [Home](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK)
* Team +
  Team
  [ ]
  + [Team Members](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Team)
  + [Attributions](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Attributions)
  + [Sponsors](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Sponsors)
  + [Collaborations](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Collaborations)
  + [Judging Form](https://igem.org/2020_Judging_Form?id=3635)
* Project +
  Project
  [ ]
  + [Contribution](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Contribution)
  + [Description](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Description)
  + Design +
    Design +
    [ ]
    - [Design Overview](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Design)
    - [Pathophysiology of SCI](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/SCI_Pathophysiology)
    - [Scaffold Design](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Scaffold_Design)
    - [Mussel Foot Proteins](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/MFP_Applications)
  + [Engineering](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Engineering)
* Parts +
  Parts
  [ ]
  + [Parts Overview](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Parts)
  + [Basic Parts](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/BasicParts)
  + [Composite Parts](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/CompositeParts)
* Model +
  Model
  [ ]
  + [Overview](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Model)
  + [Scaffold Modelling](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Scaffold_Model)
  + [PCL Degradation](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Degradation_Model)
  + [Structural Model](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Structural_Modelling)
* Proposed Implementation +
  Proposed Implementation
  [ ]
  + [Proposed Implementation](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Implementation)
  + [Entrepreneurship](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Entrepreneurship)
  + [Excellence](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Excellence)
* Human Practices +
  Human Practices
  [ ]
  + [Human Practices](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Human_Practices)
  + [Safety & Security](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Safety)
* Education & Inclusivity+
  Education & Inclusivity
  [ ]
  + [Inclusivity Research](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Inclusion)
  + [Education](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Education)
  + [Biologix Competition](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Biologix_Competition)

# Experiments

Describe the research, experiments, and protocols you used in your iGEM project. These should be detailed enough for another team to repeat your experiments.

If you made Parts this year, please remember to put all information, characterization, and measurement data on the Part's Main Page on the [Registry](http://parts.igem.org/Main_Page).

### What should this page contain?

* Protocols
* Experiments

### Inspiration

* [2014 Colombia](https://2014.igem.org/Team%3AColombia/Protocols)
* [2014 Imperial](https://2014.igem.org/Team%3AImperial/Protocols)
* [2014 Caltech](https://2014.igem.org/Team%3ACaltech/Project/Experiments)

[![](https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2020/8/8b/HQ_page_logo.jpg)](https://2020.igem.org)

# Team:KCL UK/Results

[Renervate![Renervate spine logo](https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2020/5/53/T--KCL_UK--NavbarLogo.png)](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK)

[ ]

* [Home](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK)
* Team +
  Team
  [ ]
  + [Team Members](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Team)
  + [Attributions](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Attributions)
  + [Sponsors](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Sponsors)
  + [Collaborations](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Collaborations)
  + [Judging Form](https://igem.org/2020_Judging_Form?id=3635)
* Project +
  Project
  [ ]
  + [Contribution](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Contribution)
  + [Description](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Description)
  + Design +
    Design +
    [ ]
    - [Design Overview](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Design)
    - [Pathophysiology of SCI](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/SCI_Pathophysiology)
    - [Scaffold Design](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Scaffold_Design)
    - [Mussel Foot Proteins](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/MFP_Applications)
  + [Engineering](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Engineering)
* Parts +
  Parts
  [ ]
  + [Parts Overview](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Parts)
  + [Basic Parts](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/BasicParts)
  + [Composite Parts](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/CompositeParts)
* Model +
  Model
  [ ]
  + [Overview](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Model)
  + [Scaffold Modelling](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Scaffold_Model)
  + [PCL Degradation](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Degradation_Model)
  + [Structural Model](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Structural_Modelling)
* Proposed Implementation +
  Proposed Implementation
  [ ]
  + [Proposed Implementation](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Implementation)
  + [Entrepreneurship](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Entrepreneurship)
  + [Excellence](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Excellence)
* Human Practices +
  Human Practices
  [ ]
  + [Human Practices](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Human_Practices)
  + [Safety & Security](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Safety)
* Education & Inclusivity+
  Education & Inclusivity
  [ ]
  + [Inclusivity Research](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Inclusion)
  + [Education](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Education)
  + [Biologix Competition](https://2020.igem.org/Team%3AKCL_UK/Biologix_Competition)

# Results

### What should this page contain?

* Clearly and objectively describe the results of your work.
* Future plans for the project.
* Considerations for replicating the experiments.