Descrizione del progetto
Sviluppo di farmaci per disturbi neurodegenerativi con tecnologia brain-on-a-chip
Attualmente, contro le malattie neurologiche e neurodegenerative esistono trattamenti limitati e inefficaci. Ciò è dovuto principalmente alla complessità del cervello e all’incapacità della maggior parte dei farmaci di attraversare la barriera ematoencefalica. Il progetto BrainChip4MED, finanziato dall’UE, mira a sviluppare un modello in vitro per studiare nanovettori mirati al cervello come veicoli di farmaci per questo organo. I ricercatori utilizzeranno la tecnologia brain-on-a-chip (BoC) per generare un modello basato sulla microfluidica e combinarlo con biosensori multiplex per lo screening di vari farmaci in tempo reale. Il progetto si concentrerà su candidati farmaci per il trattamento del morbo di Alzheimer.
Obiettivo
Despite all the progress and effort that has been made in the last few decades regarding the research on neurodegenerative diseases, the complexity of the human brain and the low efficiency of drugs that can cross the brain-blood-barrier (BBB), have halted significant breakthroughs in neurosciences. Motivated by the lack of an appropriate in vitro model to study brain-targeting nanocarriers, the aim of BrainChip4MED is to develop an advanced microfluidic preclinical tool to recapitulate the structural and functional aspects of the human brain tissue and BBB, using brain-on-a-chip (BoC) technology, to assess and study possible alternatives for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). This breakthrough vision will be accomplished by exploring for the first time a novel and multidisciplinary strategy, where chemistry-, engineering- and biology-based approaches will be combined for the creation of a robust microfluidic 3D brain-model, combined with multiplexed biosensor system, for real-time screening of new nanotechnologically-designed drug BBB-targeting nanocarriers. In order to pursue this project, the researcher will carry out the outgoing phase at HMS/BWH - Harvard Medical School/Brigham and Women’s Hospital (USA), pioneer in the development of organ-on-a-chip (OoC) and biosensors, for a period of 12 months (WP1). The researcher will then return to INL - International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (Portugal), for the final 12 months (WP2 and WP3), where novel engineered nanoformulation will be developed and tested on the BoC prototype. With BrainChip4MED the researcher will greatly expand her scientific expertise in the fields of OoC and nanotechnology, positioning her as a leading independent researcher, bridging the worlds of engineering and medicine. At the same time, BrainChip4MED has great outreach for academia and pharmaceutical research, contributing to the advancement of nanomedicine and neurosciences in Europe and beyond.
Campo scientifico
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesneurobiology
- natural sciencesphysical sciencesclassical mechanicsfluid mechanicsmicrofluidics
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringsensorsbiosensors
- engineering and technologynanotechnology
- engineering and technologyother engineering and technologiesmicrotechnologyorgan on a chip
Programma(i)
Argomento(i)
Meccanismo di finanziamento
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)Coordinatore
4715-330 Braga
Portogallo