Difference between revisions of "Team:Manchester-Graz/Practices"

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<p>Drawing conclusions from our human practices and outreach activities we can conclude, that the theoretical concept of DopaDoser found great approval from experts as well as from patients. Due to the daily burden of Parkinson’s patients applying current medications like Levodopa, the attitude towards new drug developments are very positive. The latest achievement on that field is the introduction of the Duodopa® therapy, an intrajejunal tube which uses Levodopa® gel. This Duodopa® therapy enables the reduction of side effects by the possibility to directly transfer L-Dopa into the jejunum. Thus, the ingestion of decarboxylase blockers can be avoided and the L-Dopa level can be adapted to a constant level throughout the day. Still the whole system has to be rinsed every evening and an oral therapy has to be applied over night.</p>
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<p>After performing our hugely rewarding human practices and outreach activities, we can conclude that the theoretical concept of DopaDoser received great approval from experts as well as from patients. Due to the daily burden of Parkinson’s patients applying current medications like Levodopa, the attitude towards new drug developments are very positive. The latest achievement in that field is the introduction of the Duodopa® therapy, an intrajejunal tube which uses Levodopa® gel. This Duodopa® therapy enables the reduction of side effects by directly administering L-DOPA into the jejunum. Also, it allows a constant level of L-DOPA delivery which negates the side effects, such as dyskinesia, that arise from pulsatile dopaminergic stimulation. However it is incredibly expensive and very invasive for the patient.</p>
 
 
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<p>DopaDoser would have the same advantages as Duodopa® due to its introduction in the jejunum. As well no elaborate maintenance of the system has to be sustained. For patients a well-established application of DopaDoser would improve living conditions due to less side effects and limited medication complexity. After an initial implementation of the DopaDoser therapy, the costs could probably be minimized, in comparison to the Duodopa® therapy, due to a less elaborate application of the new system. Furthermore, the novel production and delivery method could have certain advantages over existing industrial processes.</p>
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<p>DopaDoser would have the same advantages as Duodopa® , while being cheaper and less invasive while still providing a constant supply of L-DOPA. Also, minimal renewal of the system is required. For patients with a well-established application of DopaDoser, it would improve living conditions due to fewer side effects and limited medication complexity. Furthermore, the novel production and delivery method could have certain advantages over existing industrial processes.</p>
  
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<p>Still, some open questions have to be ruled out. Though, the issue regarding cell densities that can be reached in the jejunum has to be investigated. As well, concentrations of L-Dopa released by our engineered bacteria have to be measured and adapted.</p>
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<p>Still, some open questions have to be ruled out. There is an issue regarding the ability for cells to reach the correct density in the gut. We considered this and came to the conclusion that DopaDoser would be taken every few days, as opposed to oral L-DOPA which is taken multiple times a day. So while not a one-dose treatment, it is certainly an improvement on current methods.</p>
  
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<p>Even though, at the moment the application of our introduced system is not thinkable, it might be a solution in the future. Not only Parkinson’s disease but also other treatments could be invented regarding engineered bacteria that could be introduced in the human body. Of course, the implementation of our system would not only be accompanied with further research efforts, but also the legal foundations would have to be adapted. One important step though was done within our project. We created awareness and enlightenment when it comes to topics involving synthetic biology. We got positive response from patients, experts and the general public concerning the use of genetically engineered bacteria as medication systems. This gained attitude is one step towards the design of a new field of medical applications for people in the future. </p>
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<p>Even though our solution is not ready to be implemented currently, it might be a solution in the future. Not only for Parkinson’s disease but also other medications could be steadily released in the gut. Of course, the implementation of our system would not only be accompanied with further research efforts, but also the legal foundations would have to be adapted. However, we feel our project took the first and most important step. We created awareness and enlightenment when it comes to topics involving synthetic biology. We also received positive responses from patients, experts and the general public, concerning the use of genetically engineered bacteria as medication systems. This gained attitude is one step towards the design of a new field of medical applications for people in the future.</p>
  
  

Revision as of 03:19, 19 September 2015

iGEM Manchester Header

iGEM Manchester - Human Practices

Human Practices

Key Achievements

  • Comprehensively analysed four chemical processes that make L-DOPA and assessed viability of DopaDoser fermentation in terms of wastes and time.
  • Raising awareness regarding synthetic biology and its usage in the field of health care.
  • Establishing a novel approach to Parkinson's treatment inspired by the established Duodopa® therapy
  • Analysed current treatments and assessed how DopaDoser will improve PD patients’ lives.

After performing our hugely rewarding human practices and outreach activities, we can conclude that the theoretical concept of DopaDoser received great approval from experts as well as from patients. Due to the daily burden of Parkinson’s patients applying current medications like Levodopa, the attitude towards new drug developments are very positive. The latest achievement in that field is the introduction of the Duodopa® therapy, an intrajejunal tube which uses Levodopa® gel. This Duodopa® therapy enables the reduction of side effects by directly administering L-DOPA into the jejunum. Also, it allows a constant level of L-DOPA delivery which negates the side effects, such as dyskinesia, that arise from pulsatile dopaminergic stimulation. However it is incredibly expensive and very invasive for the patient.

DopaDoser would have the same advantages as Duodopa® , while being cheaper and less invasive while still providing a constant supply of L-DOPA. Also, minimal renewal of the system is required. For patients with a well-established application of DopaDoser, it would improve living conditions due to fewer side effects and limited medication complexity. Furthermore, the novel production and delivery method could have certain advantages over existing industrial processes.

Still, some open questions have to be ruled out. There is an issue regarding the ability for cells to reach the correct density in the gut. We considered this and came to the conclusion that DopaDoser would be taken every few days, as opposed to oral L-DOPA which is taken multiple times a day. So while not a one-dose treatment, it is certainly an improvement on current methods.

Even though our solution is not ready to be implemented currently, it might be a solution in the future. Not only for Parkinson’s disease but also other medications could be steadily released in the gut. Of course, the implementation of our system would not only be accompanied with further research efforts, but also the legal foundations would have to be adapted. However, we feel our project took the first and most important step. We created awareness and enlightenment when it comes to topics involving synthetic biology. We also received positive responses from patients, experts and the general public, concerning the use of genetically engineered bacteria as medication systems. This gained attitude is one step towards the design of a new field of medical applications for people in the future.