Project description
Nanoparticle drug delivery system for fatty liver disease
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is caused by fat build-up in the liver in people who are usually overweight. Cannabinoid-1 receptors (CB1Rs) in the liver may increase hepatic glucose production, insulin resistance and de novo lipogenesis, and decrease fatty acid oxidation. However, CB1R blockers are no longer used in humans owing to their neuropsychiatric side effects. The EU-funded NANOFLD project aims to introduce CB1R blockers again in clinical trials by utilising an innovative nanometric drug delivery system that specifically targets hepatic CB1Rs. Having successfully encapsulated the first-in-class CB1R blocker in nanoparticles and tested their stability, efficacy and potency, the team will study nanoparticle-CB1R blockers' biodistribution and how this nanometric drug delivery system affects the hepatic cells.
Objective
Obesity is a catalyst for numerous conditions; the most notable is non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), for which currently no drug therapy has been approved by the FDA and EMA for its treatment. The endocannabinoid (eCB) system triggers the development of obesity and its related comorbidities, specifically NAFLD. eCBs, via activating the cannabinoid-1 receptors (CB1Rs) in the liver, increase hepatic glucose production, insulin resistance, and de novo lipogenesis, and decrease fatty acid oxidation. Accordingly, globally-acting CB1R blockers improve these parameters both in rodents and humans. However, owing to their neuropsychiatric side effects, they were withdrawn from the market and are no longer available for clinical use. NANOFLD aims to revive their clinical development and testing by utilizing an innovative nanometric drug delivery system for the hepatic targeting of globally-acting CB1R blockers for treating NAFLD. In the framework of my ERC-StG grant, CaNanoBinoids, my team successfully encapsulated the first-in-class CB1R blocker, rimonabant, in nanoparticles (NPs), tested their stability, efficacy, and potency, and demonstrated their therapeutic potential in ameliorating NAFLD, insulin resistance, and dyslipidemia in mice. To further translate our findings into clinical practice, the present PoC application builds on and expands this avenue of research by achieving several necessary steps including biodistribution, hepatic cellular fate, and PK studies of our novel nanometric drug delivery system. Importantly, we have secured the IP, conducted a specific market assessment, targeted regulatory constraints, implemented a business development plan, consulted with professionals in the field, and developed contacts with industry. When this project is completed, we expect to have introduced a unique innovation to treat NAFLD and its metabolic abnormalities, further promoting the idea to clinically test CB1R blockers encapsulated in NPs against NAFLD.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
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.
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.
HORIZON-ERC-POC - HORIZON ERC Proof of Concept Grants
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2022-POC2
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91904 Jerusalem
Israel
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