Objective There is a high demand for the development of new drug delivery strategies to combat major diseases in our society, particularly cancer. Current treatments are based on high efficacy drugs, however their non-selective uptake by both normal and tumor cells as well as the development of multidrug resistance (MDR), constitute major hurdles. Resistance is also associated with the use of nucleoside analogues as anticancer drugs in vivo. Photodynamic therapy (PDT), aims at selectively killing neoplastic lesions by the combined action of a photosensitizer and visible light. Passive targeting, involving enhanced permeability and retention effect, allows the accumulation of drugs on tumor sites, and concomitant active targeting with suitable functionalities, constitute properties currently associated with polymeric delivery systems. Cyclodextrins (CDs) are biocompatible and biodegradable oligosaccharide nanocages, known to improve the solubility, stability and bioavailability of drugs. Scattered literature reports incidents that CDs may constitute potential means to overcome certain forms of MDR, or to effectively deliver photosensitizing anticancer drugs preserving their photodynamic properties. This network, highly specialized in CD chemistry, photochemistry, in vitro drug evaluation and in vivo applications, proposes to synthesize diverse families of new CD derivatives to build a platform of CD-based drug delivery nanosystems with a variety of architectures. These new generation nanocarriers, encompassing many cavities in a nm-sized vehicle, will possess high drug loading capacity, improved permeability and retention effect, enhanced targeting and complete biocompatibility. Their mode of action will be assessed in vitro and in vivo. These goals will be achieved via a strong training program of ESRs and ERs in a highly collaborating, multidisciplinary and application oriented program, with full participation of an SME partner, a leader in CD applications. Fields of science natural scienceschemical sciencesphysical chemistryphotochemistrymedical and health sciencesclinical medicineoncologymedical and health sciencesbasic medicinepharmacology and pharmacydrug resistancemultidrug resistance Keywords Health sciences Natural sciences anticancer drugs cyclodextrins drug delivery nanocarriers nanomedicine photosensitizing drugs Programme(s) FP7-PEOPLE - Specific programme "People" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Topic(s) FP7-PEOPLE-ITN-2008 - Marie Curie Action: "Networks for Initial Training" Call for proposal FP7-PEOPLE-ITN-2008 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MC-ITN - Networks for Initial Training (ITN) Coordinator "NATIONAL CENTER FOR SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH ""DEMOKRITOS""" EU contribution € 411 432,00 Address END OF PATRIARCHOU GRIGORIOU E AND 27 NEAPOLEOS STREET 15341 Agia Paraskevi Greece See on map Region Αττική Aττική Βόρειος Τομέας Αθηνών Activity type Research Organisations Administrative Contact Styliani Martaki (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data Participants (8) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all UNIVERSIDAD DE CASTILLA - LA MANCHA Spain EU contribution € 324 040,00 Address CALLE ALTAGRACIA 50 13071 Ciudad Real See on map Region Centro (ES) Castilla-La Mancha Ciudad Real Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Maria Llanos Carrion-Varela (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE CNRS France EU contribution € 348 297,00 Address RUE MICHEL ANGE 3 75794 Paris See on map Region Ile-de-France Ile-de-France Paris Activity type Research Organisations Administrative Contact Michèle Saumon (Dr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data HASKOLI ISLANDS Iceland EU contribution € 249 269,00 Address SAEMUNDARGOTU 2 101 Reykjavik See on map Region Ísland Ísland Höfuðborgarsvæði Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Sigurdur J. Hafsteinsson (Mr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI CATANIA Italy EU contribution € 299 649,00 Address PIAZZA UNIVERSITA 2 95131 Catania See on map Region Isole Sicilia Catania Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Clara Pluchino (Dr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data CONSIGLIO NAZIONALE DELLE RICERCHE Italy EU contribution € 211 603,00 Address PIAZZALE ALDO MORO 7 00185 Roma See on map Region Centro (IT) Lazio Roma Activity type Research Organisations Administrative Contact Giancarlo Seconi (Dr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data GOETEBORGS UNIVERSITET Sweden EU contribution € 218 583,00 Address VASAPARKEN 405 30 Goeteborg See on map Region Södra Sverige Västsverige Västra Götalands län Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Ludde Edgren (Dr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data UNIVERSIDAD DE ALMERIA Spain EU contribution € 195 917,00 Address CARRETERA SACRAMENTO CANADA 04120 Almeria See on map Region Sur Andalucía Almería Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Antonio Miguel Posadas Chinchilla (Prof.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data CYCLOLAB CIKLODEXTRIN KUTATO-FEJLESZTO KFT Hungary EU contribution € 156 757,00 Address ILLATOS UT 7 1097 Budapest See on map Region Közép-Magyarország Budapest Budapest Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Administrative Contact Erzsebet Szilagyi (Dr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data