Project description
Improved radiotherapy with nanoparticles
External beam radiotherapy (EBRT) is a common cancer treatment that uses high-energy radiation, typically X-rays, to target and destroy cancer cells. The radiation is delivered from outside the body with beams focusing on the tumour to minimise damage to surrounding healthy tissues. To enhance the effects of EBRT, the ERC-funded ENCANT project proposes the development of nanoparticles containing high atomic number (Z) elements such as gold or platinum. These elements increase the absorption of radiation in tumour tissue by interacting with X-rays due to their dense electron clouds. These nanoparticles will be engineered for optimal blood circulation and will allow for lower radiation doses, reducing the adverse effects of radiotherapy.
Objective
Current cancer research efforts are focused on obtaining targeted therapies, with greater precision, that lead to improved patient survival, with fewer adverse effects to ensure a better quality of life. ENCANT (nanoengineered particles for ENhanced CANcer radioTherapy) will contribute to this aim by developing new therapeutic agents based on biocompatible nanoparticles bearing high atomic number (Z) elements, which will enhance external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) effect on cancer tissue. This will allow the use of a lower radiation dose, consequently lowering adverse effects related to radiotherapy lack of specificity.
The physicochemical properties of the NPs can be rationally designed according to different needs. NPs will be functionalized to increase their blood circulation time and facilitate their accumulation in the tumoural tissue. NPs will be tested in vivo to describe toxicity ranges, targeting efficiency and their therapeutic effect with external beam radiotherapy using in vivo cancer models.
ENCANT will initially focus on high-Z NPs for prostate cancer (PC). Nevertheless, their adaptability should allow to use them for other tumour types, thus expanding their range of application. ENCANT aims to improve and expand oncology treatment options available to cancer patients thus providing them a more personalized treatment.
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 prostate cancer
- engineering and technology nanotechnology nano-materials
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
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-2024-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.
28006 Madrid
Spain
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