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Content archived on 2024-06-18

Targeted Nanosystems for Improving Photodynamic Therapy and Diagnosis of Cancer

Objective

The overall objective of this proposal is the development of one or more nanosystems loaded with Foscan® and conjugated to cancer cell specific ligands for improving the efficacy and selectivity of photodynamic therapy (PDT) and optimise a fluorescence-based tumour imaging approach. At present, PDT with Foscan® can be very effective but is not selective because Foscan® accumulates in the tumour tissue as well as in healthy ones. A great improvement of the therapy can only come from the availability of a carrier able to seek cancer cells and deliver Foscan® selectively to them. Three types of nanosystems, namely, liposomes, silica nanoparticles or poly(lactide-co-glycolide) copolymer nanoparticles, have been selected as potential nanocarriers for the selective delivery of Foscan®. The selection was mainly based on the different chemical nature of these systems, which can affect biocompatibility. During the first part of the project each type of nanosystem will be optimised through in vitro and in vivo tests and leader nanocarriers will be selected and conjugated to cancer cells specific ligands for increasing the selective delivery of Foscan®. The ligands we will use (folic acid, EGF, and antibodies) for targeting the nanosystems find their corresponding receptor over-expressed on the surface of cancer cells, therefore allowing a selective delivery of drugs in these cells. In vitro and in vivo investigations will be carried to demonstrate the validity of our approach and deliver, at project conclusion, a final product which can then be tested clinically. Because of the red fluorescence emitted by Foscan®, once it is selectively accumulated in cancer cells fluorescence based technique can be used for tumour imaging and diagnosis. Therefore we expect to develop a Foscan® loaded nanosystem/s which can be used for improving both therapeutic and tumour imaging approaches.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

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Keywords

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Programme(s)

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Topic(s)

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Call for proposal

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FP7-HEALTH-2007-A
See other projects for this call

Funding Scheme

Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.

CP-FP - Small or medium-scale focused research project

Coordinator

UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI PADOVA
EU contribution
€ 910 538,00
Address
VIA 8 FEBBRAIO 2
35122 PADOVA
Italy

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Region
Nord-Est Veneto Padova
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
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Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

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Participants (4)

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