Project description
Smart nanoparticles for precision drug delivery
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive subtype of breast cancer that lacks expression of oestrogen and progesterone receptors, and the HER2 protein. As a result, standard hormone therapies and targeted treatments are ineffective. The TNBC microenvironment is characterised by poor vascularisation and low oxygen levels, making effective drug delivery particularly challenging. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the DuoLipo-TNP project aims to develop liposomal nanocarriers that respond to the acidity and low oxygen of the tumour microenvironment, thereby facilitating site-specific drug release. This approach utilises targeting peptides that guide the nanocarriers to tumour blood vessels, enhancing selectivity and minimising systemic toxicity.
Objective
Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women worldwide and a leading cause of cancer mortality in Europe, with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) representing the most aggressive and therapy-resistant subtype. Driven by tumor heterogeneity, poor vascularization, and a hostile microenvironment, TNBC urgently requires new therapeutic strategies, an unmet clinical need directly aligned with the EU Mission on Cancer. DuoLipo-TNP seeks to address these challenges by developing dual-responsive liposomal nanocarriers for the selective delivery of γ-masked triphosphate nucleotide prodrugs (TNPs). The platform combines tumor-penetrating iRGD peptides for αvβ3/αvβ5 integrin-mediated vascular targeting with lipid components responsive to hypoxia and acidic pH, two hallmark features of TNBC. This dual-triggered strategy enables site-specific release of active antimetabolites, bypasses kinase-dependent activation, and minimizes systemic toxicity. The project applies a multidisciplinary approach spanning prodrug synthesis, advanced liposomal formulation and characterization, and comprehensive pharmacological validation in 2D and 3D TNBC models, including patient-derived spheroids. Ultimately, DuoLipo-TNP aims to establish a platform for intratumoral delivery of nucleotide analogues, advancing precision nanomedicine and contributing to the EU Mission on Cancer by improving outcomes in drug-resistant solid tumors.
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
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine oncology
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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
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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.
CF10 3AT CARDIFF
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.