Objective
The fundamental objective of the research described in this proposal is to establish foundations for controlling the interactions between magnetically-active inorganic centres and the molecular water around them. Magnetic centres, paramagnetic complexes or ferromagnetic cores, are capable of generating high-levels of MRI contrast in a manner highly reflective of these interactions. The shrouding of these in functional organic dielectrics/biologically-mimicking membranes enables a “gating” of water interactions such that they are turned on/primed to turn on under very specific conditions. This project will seek to engineer this control within diffusively-mobile nanoparticle constructs such that they are responsive to specific ions, local pH or hypoxic conditions, indicative of disease. A central part of the work will focus on controlling water flux across artificial bilayers in a manner akin to the bilayer controls that support life (where, for example, proton transmembrane flux underpins respiration). A second strand will focus on gating water access by triggering changes in polymer wettability. Inorganic magnets wrapped in membranes will also present a plug and plug platform where zwitterionic and integrated antibody densities can be optimised to maximise the specificity and selectivity of targetting. The outer surfaces of these bilayer-wrapped ferromagnetic particles will be hydrated; the binding of a target will displace this and thus reduce the volume of water that interacting with the magnetic field generated by the inorganic core (leading to another new MRI sensing platform). The fact that these ferromagnetic cores can be precisely manipulated by electromagnetic fields will be utilised in shaking particles controllably with low blood volumes and optimising the capture of rare targets; this will be applied herein to underpin a step change in our ability to capture circulating tumour cells and diagnose presymptomatic Parkinson's.
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.
- natural sciences physical sciences electromagnetism and electronics electromagnetism
- natural sciences chemical sciences polymer sciences
- engineering and technology nanotechnology nano-materials
- medical and health sciences basic medicine neurology parkinson
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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)
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 - HORIZON ERC 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-2025-ADG
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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.
OX1 2JD Oxford
United Kingdom
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.