Projektbeschreibung
Nicht-immunogene Nanokonstrukte als theranostisches Instrument zur Krebsbehandlung
Das vom Europäischen Forschungsrat finanzierte Projekt TROJANANOHORSE hat die Entwicklung innovativer, multifunktionaler, sicherer, nicht-immunogener therapeutischer und diagnostischer (theranostischer) Nanosysteme für die Krebsbehandlung und Zellbildgebung zum Ziel. Das Projektkonzept basiert auf einem kürzlich entwickelten Nanosystem mit einem therapeutisch wirksamen Kern, das gegen Leukämie validiert wurde. Das Nanosystem basiert auf einer nicht-immunogenen Lipid-Doppelschicht, die von einer körpereigenen Krebszellmembran stammt. Zu den Zielen des laufenden Projekts gehören die Konstruktion des theranostischen Nanosystems und die anschließende Bewertung der therapeutischen Wirksamkeit und der Zielspezifität. Im Rahmen der Studie werden die Sicherheit und der biologische Abbau des Nanokonstrukts getestet und die Anwendungen in den Bereichen Bio-Imaging und Diagnostik untersucht, sodass ein vollständiges theranostisches Instrument entsteht.
Ziel
Nanomedicine tools for cancer treatment comprise many nanosized systems, so far developed with smart functions such as efficient drug delivery and cell targeting abilities. However they remain still undercharacterized in terms of immunogenicity, potential toxicity due to the materials itself or the unwanted release of drugs. To overcome these challenges this project aims to develop a new generation of multifunctional therapeutic and diagnostic (thus theranostics) nanosystems displaying non-immunogenicity, improved cancer treatment, cell imaging, and high safety for the hosting organism. The innovative concept behind this approach relies on a core-shell nanosystem with a therapeutically active core, i.e. a TrojaNanoHorse (TNH), here validated against leukaemia. The injectable TNH have a lipid bilayer shell derived from autologous cancer cell membrane, naturally non-immunogenic. The hemocompatibility, antithrombogenicity, and targeting ability with antibodies toward malignant blood cells will be proved during this project. Studies will show the zinc oxide nanocrystal core activation developing toxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) for cancer killing, and its green fluorescence emission. The whole TNH would go beyond the state-of-the-art due to its nature-derived biomimetic shell, absence of drugs, its safety and biodegrading fate, and green luminescent emissions for diagnosis. This project will also develop novel set-up for non-immunogenic therapy and diagnosis, impacting on future technology, new standardized protocols for nanomaterial safety assessment, and study chemical and biological mechanism of ROS development effects on cancer cell. Achieving the ultimate goal of a multifunctional TNH will require multidisciplinary expertise in chemistry, material science, biology, medicine and engineering, opening new horizons as nanomedicine tools for efficient cancer therapy with strong scientific, technological and socio-economic benefits.
Wissenschaftliches Gebiet
- medical and health sciencesmedical biotechnologynanomedicine
- engineering and technologynanotechnologynano-materialsnanocrystals
- medical and health sciencesclinical medicinecardiologycardiovascular diseases
- medical and health sciencesbasic medicineimmunologyimmunotherapy
- medical and health sciencesclinical medicineoncologyleukemia
Programm/Programme
Thema/Themen
Finanzierungsplan
ERC-STG - Starting GrantGastgebende Einrichtung
10129 Torino
Italien