Project description
Optimised nanoparticles for medical applications
Nanotechnology offers great promise in medicine with nanomaterials serving as therapeutic modalities. They can be functionalised with biological moieties such as sugars or antibodies to guide resulting nanoparticles to specific targets within the body, and they can also serve as carriers of drugs. The mission of the EU-funded NanoCarb project is to improve the translation from bench to clinic of nanotechnology-related findings. Researchers have developed a platform for synthesising novel nanoparticles functionalised with glycans with optimal interacting properties upon exposure to biological environments. This platform will pave the way for a more streamlined testing process and safe nanoparticles for various healthcare applications.
Objective
The advance of nanomedicine requires the development of novel materials with tailored properties, controlled circulation, optimal targeting and therapeutic efficacy after administration. Nanomaterials engineered with glycans offer multiple possibilities for nanomedicine as these biomolecules when arranged on a nanomaterial surface display strong binding to specific receptors while at the same time the glyco coating can restrict unspecific interactions with proteins, helping to avoid the mononuclear phagocyte system and improved biocompatibility in vivo.
The NanoCarb Network will develop novel and well-characterised nanomaterials with synthetic and native N-glycans that will be used for therapeutics and guide development of new drug delivery applications.
The project will train early stage researchers at the interface of nanotechnology and glycosciences, with the overall goal of achieving a new generation of professionals in nanomedicine for a prospective career in both academia and industry.
To achieve this goal a multidisciplinary consortium has been created including universities, research centres and SMEs with broad expertise ranging from nanotechnology, carbohydrate chemistry, glycoprofiling and in vitro – in vivo screening specialists. An ambitious training plan will be implemented including courses, outreach activities, participation in seminar, and workshops for the development of scientific and transferable skills.
Fields of science
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculesproteins
- medical and health sciencesmedical biotechnologynanomedicine
- engineering and technologymaterials engineeringcoating and films
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculescarbohydrates
- engineering and technologynanotechnologynano-materials
Keywords
Programme(s)
Coordinator
2 Dublin
Ireland