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Content archived on 2024-05-30

DEVELOPMENT OF A TECHNOLOGY TO PRODUCE MICROCAPSULES, based on the formation of drops from viscous non-Newtonian liquids sprayed through fan-jet nozzles, TO USE IN CANCER THERAPY

Objective

The main aim of this project is the development of a new technology to produce smart drug delivery
system for chemotherapeutic agents per recognition event. For that affinity-microparticles (10-20 microns
diameter) loaded of paclitaxel (PTX) or Endotastin will be produced.
Microcapsules will be made using a new technology based on the formation of drops from viscous non-
Newtonian liquids sprayed through fan-jet nozzles. This process is based on generation of kinetic energy to a
liquid jet resulting on controlled spray generation. The technique will be modelled in order to ensure the scale-up
the process.
The microparticles, based on alginate polymer, will be functionalised on his surface by affinity ligand, epidermal
growth factor (EGF) which will be able to recognize a specific protein of the tumoral cell, (EGFR) epidermal
growth factor receptor.
Surface plasma resonance will be carried to control the interaction between the microparticle and the protein and
therefore to ensure the efficiency of the microparticles produced. This information will be used to developed a
dynamic model to assess the importance of spatial phenomena and then we will evaluate the accuracy of partial
differential equations (PDEs) in transient when spatial effects are important.
Control release from microcapsules loaded of anticancer agent will be characterized by control release kinetics,
mass transfer, mechanic stability and permeability studies. Mass transfer through the tissue, or therapeutic
leakage from storage cavities and their consequent transport through the organ, are among the several physical
processes, where knowledge of the unsteady transport of a scalar quantity (mass of an active) is of importance
for cell therapy. For that reasons it is necessary to derive an analytical solution for the unsteady mass transport
problem in a porous medium under torsional flow to simulate the diffusion of active materials in body cavities
(Mixed mechanic-electrical model), assuming body cavities as ideally isotropic porous medium.
Finally, characterized microcapsules will be tested in lung tissues with lung cancer. Cell viability (MTT) and
apoptosis after PTX exposure in non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) will be studied. Morphological distribution
of particles in areas of interest (lung, pleura and lymph nodes) will be examined. The experimental results found
in vitro will compared with experimental animal models developed for tumoral cell death.

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Topic(s)

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Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

ERC-2010-StG_20091028
See other projects for this call

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.

ERC-SG - ERC Starting Grant

Host institution

UNIVERSIDAD DE SALAMANCA
EU contribution
€ 1 367 229,00
Address
CALLE PATIO DE ESCUELAS 1
37008 SALAMANCA
Spain

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Region
Centro (ES) Castilla y León Salamanca
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
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Total cost

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.

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Beneficiaries (1)

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