Project description DEENESFRITPL Remote-controlled drug delivery Exosomes are cell-derived extracellular vesicles that carry nucleic acids, proteins, metabolites and lipids. They are implicated in cell-cell communication, and emerging evidence underscores their role in the pathophysiology of many diseases. The TheranoXome project aims to exploit exosomes for the image guided delivery of drugs. Funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, it will use nanoparticles to deliver chemotherapeutic drugs within exosomes and test their properties and efficacy in a mouse model of breast cancer. Importantly, the specific delivery and fate of these exosomes will be mediated by magnetic resonance imaging. Show the project objective Hide the project objective Objective The primary objective of this project is to engineer a non-immunogenic cell-membrane mimicking drug delivery vehicle for remote-controlled precision drug delivery. This will be achieved by encapsulating stimuli-responsive & contrast enhancing nanoparticles and drug cargo into endogenous exosomes to develop a therapeutic-cum-diagnostic exosomal system viz; TheranoXome for image-guided stimuli-responsive drug delivery. Such bio-mimetic TheranoXomes if realized will have wide applicability as a universal drug-delivery agent. The project entails three steps: (1) Synthesizing TheranoXomes by template assisted loading of chemotherapeutic drugs, light responsive thermoplasmonic gold nanorods and magnetic nanoparticles as magnetic resonance imaging agents into exosomes; (2) (Bio-)Physicochemical characterization of TheranoXomes including colloidal properties, biomimetics, immuno-compatibility, light-triggered drug release, magnetism (imaging and magnetic guided enrichment) and in vitro studies (2D and 3D cell cultures); (3) Application of TheranoXomes in vivo in a breast tumor bearing mice model. I (the ER) will prepare, characterize and test the materials and application proposed, with the support of a multidisciplinary hub of specialists. The prime training aim of TheranoXome is to provide me with a solid foundation in biomaterials, which will support my future career endeavours, both in the academia or industry, to be an independent researcher, a founder of a start-up company or to become key player in the biomaterials sector. I will be hosted by the Centre for Research in Biological Chemistry and Molecular Materials (CiQUS) of the University of Santiago de Compostela, a cutting-edge multidisciplinary research centre at the interface of chemistry, biomedicine and molecular materials. The training will be further strengthened by one secondment (6 months) focused on in vivo (drug delivery and imaging) studies (Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela - IDIS). Fields of science natural sciencesbiological sciencescell biologymedical and health sciencesclinical medicineoncologyengineering and technologymedical engineeringdiagnostic imagingmagnetic resonance imagingengineering and technologynanotechnologynano-materialsengineering and technologyindustrial biotechnologybiomaterials Keywords Colloid chemistry Theranostics In vivo bio and medical imaging Nano-materials (production and properties) Stem cell biology Programme(s) HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Main Programme Topic(s) HORIZON-MSCA-2021-PF-01-01 - MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2021 Call for proposal HORIZON-MSCA-2021-PF-01 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships Coordinator UNIVERSIDAD DE SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA Net EU contribution € 181 152,96 Address Colexio de san xerome praza do obradoiro s/n 15782 Santiago de compostela Spain See on map Region Noroeste Galicia A Coruña Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window EU contribution No data Partners (1) Sort alphabetically Sort by Net EU contribution Expand all Collapse all FUNDACION INSTITUTO DE INVESTIGACION SANITARIA DE SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA Spain Net EU contribution € 0,00 Address Travesa da choupana 15706 Santiago de compostela See on map Region Noroeste Galicia A Coruña Activity type Research Organisations Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Other funding No data
