Project description
Bioengineered nanoparticles for advanced medicine
Magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (MNP) hold great promise for biomedical applications, from targeted drug delivery to cancer therapy and advanced imaging. However, conventional chemically synthesised MNP suffers from poor biocompatibility, inconsistent size, and limited magnetic tunability, restricting their real-world use. Additionally, their production methods are often costly and environmentally unsustainable. To overcome these challenges, the ERC-funded BacToMagicle project is harnessing engineered bacteria to produce high-quality MNP. These bacterial MNP are genetically optimised for superior biocompatibility, uniformity, and enhanced functionality. The project aims to scale up production, validate biocompatibility, and demonstrate their potential in cutting-edge medical imaging, paving the way for the future commercialisation of sustainable, high-performance MNP solutions.
Objective
Of tremendous biomedical and clinical interest are magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (MNP) that can be tailored to fulfil specific functions, for instance as actuated drug carriers, tracers for magnetic imaging modalities, or heat generators in magnetic hyperthermia for cancer therapy. However, their use in real-world applications has been hampered by lack of precise size control and magnetic tunability as well as by poor biocompatibility associated with their conventional synthesis. I propose a step-change approach for the light-powered bioproduction of high-quality magnetic nanoparticles by novel synthetic microbes generated in ERC-AdG Syntomagx, crafted precisely for their use in biomedical applications. Compared to commercial, chemically synthesized MNP, these novel bacterial MNP are expected to exhibit superior applicability and versatility, owing to their genetically tuned and uniform physicochemical and magnetic characteristics, available at high cost-efficiency and under sustainable manufacturing conditions. First, bacterial production and purification of the particles will be set up at large lab scale. In addition, their anticipated superior biocompatibility will be thoroughly assessed. Then, we will explore and demonstrate their performance in collaboration with various biomedical end users. As proof-of-concept we will deliver a formulation of bacterial MNP tailored as potent tracers in high-resolution magnetic particle imaging (MPI). With respect to the long-term goal of future commercial exploitation, we will explore patenting options and thoroughly assess the demand for such high quality biogenic MNP. I envision that our idea will revolutionize the biomedical MNP-market by opening it for the wealth of genetically tailored and highly functionalized bacterial MNP, suitable for a wide range of applications.
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.
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.
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine oncology
- engineering and technology nanotechnology nano-materials
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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)
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.
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-2023-POC
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
95447 Bayreuth
Germany
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.