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Content archived on 2024-05-29

Controlled release drug delivery systems

Objective

The expertise in the rational design of nano-particles, mesoporous structures, hydro-gels, degradable polymers, aerogels, ceramics etc with variable bulk and surface chemical compositions and physicochemical properties has reached a climax but their potential use in the biotechnology industry has yet to be fully explored.

The detoxification of blood using enzymes and antibodies immobilised onto mesoporous materials (in a bioreactor specifically designed for this purpose) is one of the goals of this proposal, e.g. heparinase I, immobilised on periodic mesoporous organosilanes, to remove heparin from the blood.

The second is the use of nanomaterials, (degradable polymers, mesoporous supports and nanoparticles), in controlled release drug delivery systems. Many drugs, which are highly successful in selectively targeting diseases in a test tube, fail in clinical applications due to obstacles created by stability, delivery and potency in the body.

For example, RNA interference is a developing alternative treatment for many diseases but RNAi will not survive in the bloodstream and so the design and synthesis of a suitable delivery vehicle (degradable polymer to encapsulate and protect the RNA molecule) is essential if this treatment is to have future applications.

The world leading research group in controlled release drug delivery is at MIT and the aim of the researcher is to spend 2 years working with a range of experts in materials synthesis and drug release and capture under different conditions.

She would return to the MSSI, a materials institute in Ireland, whose ethos is the development of interdisciplinary skills for practical applications, to set up bioreactors for the detoxification of blood and initiate controlled release drug delivery studies using mesoporous materials, degradable polymers and other materials designed within the institute.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

Keywords

Topic(s)

Call for proposal

FP6-2005-MOBILITY-6
See other projects for this call

Funding Scheme

OIF - Marie Curie actions-Outgoing International Fellowships

Coordinator

UNIVERSITY OF LIMERICK
EU contribution
No data
Total cost
No data

Participants (1)