Project description
Nanotool for studying neuropeptides in living cells
Neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease affect hundreds of millions of people worldwide, imposing an enormous social and economic burden. Small signalling molecules called neuropeptides play a critical role in neural communication and are strongly implicated in disease development. However, studying them in their native cellular compartments is technically challenging. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the InNano-NP project aims to develop a novel nanopipette capable of simultaneously quantifying, structurally analysing and regulating neuropeptides within single vesicles inside living cells. The proposed nanotool will integrate electrochemical sensing and regulation functions, providing the capacity to study with unprecedented detail the molecular mechanisms of neurodegeneration
Objective
Neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) represent a growing global crisis with profound social and economic implications. As essential signaling molecules, neuropeptides (NPs) packaged within dense-core vesicles (DCVs) play a critical role in modulating neural communication and have been strongly implicated in NDD pathogenesis. The ability to in situ monitor and regulate NPs within individual vesicles is critical for unraveling disease mechanisms and developing early diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. However, intracellular analysis of NPs within DCVs remains a major technical challenge. To address this gap, this project aims to develop a novel double-barrel nanopipette with integrated sensing and regulatory functions. Combined with intracellular vesicle impact electrochemical cytometry, the detection channel modified with stimuli-responsive polymers will enable fast and sensitive in situ quantification of non-electroactive NPs within single vesicles. Taking advantage of dynamic adsorption/desorption of NPs on polymer surfaces, the nanopipette can serve as a direct sampling tool to extract NPs from DCVs, facilitating structural characterization via nanoESI-MS. The delivery channel will enable closed-loop release of therapeutic agents in response to specific stimuli (e.g. ROS or pH), offering a targeted intervention strategy for vesicle function with high controllability.
In summary, this project will establish the first nanotool capable of simultaneous in situ quantification, structural analysis and targeted regulation of NPs within DCVs. By combining my expertise in electrochemical sensors based on stimuli-responsive polymers to detect biomolecules with new innovations in materials science, nanotechnology and neural science, this work will provide a transformative paradigm for NDD research. Its successful implementation will not only redefine our understanding and treatment of NDDs, but also generate profound scientific, societal, and economic impacts.
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 biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules
- engineering and technology nanotechnology
- natural sciences chemical sciences polymer sciences
- engineering and technology electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering electronic engineering sensors
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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.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
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-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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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) HORIZON-MSCA-2025-PF
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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.
405 30 Goeteborg
Sweden
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.