DNA nanohydrogel loaded Liposomal formulations for high loading efficiency of antimicrobial drugs against intracellular bacterial and topical biofilm infections

Descripción del proyecto

Sistemas innovadores para mejorar la carga farmacológica en nanomedicina

Las bacterias responsables de las infecciones cutáneas persistentes y las infecciones intracelulares son difíciles de combatir, lo que plantea un importante desafío médico y socioeconómico. De manera similar, los antimicrobianos no pueden penetrar las biopelículas bacterianas que se forman en distintas superficies. Para superar estos problemas, científicos del proyecto NANOZID, financiado con fondos europeos, trabajarán en nanohidrogeles de ADN como vectores avanzados de administración de antimicrobianos. El objetivo clave es aumentar la eficiencia de carga y focalización de los liposomas contra infecciones bacterianas que son difíciles de alcanzar y tratar. Este enfoque podría formar la base de nuevas tecnologías y productos patentables y ayudar a abordar la propagación de la resistencia a los antimicrobianos.

Objetivo

Dr. Sybil Obuobi was awarded her PhD in Pharmacy at the National University of Singapore (Singapore) in July 2018 and is very excited to pursue a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Tromso The Arctic University of Norway (UiT, Norway) under the supervision of Prof. Natasa Skalko-Basnet, a renowned expert in advanced drug delivery. Their project will exploit DNA nanohydrogels, as a novel universal platform to improve the loading efficiency of antimicrobials in mannosylated liposomes against intracellular and topical biofilm infections. This approach fills the current research gap for high drug loading innovative systems in nanomedicine and holds great promise to improve drug efficacy against difficult-to-reach pathogens thus, there is immense potential for new patentable technologies/products. This area of research will advance knowledge in antimicrobial drug delivery and the outcomes will appeal to formulation scientists, R&D scientists and people with persistent skin infections that impose significant economic challenge and contribute to the spread of antimicrobial resistance. With access to state-of-the-art equipment and interdisciplinary environment within the participating organisations (UiT, University of Helsinki and BIOTEC Pharmacon ASA) and administrative support, Dr. Obuobi will acquire new skills in life sciences, expertise in state-of the art biofilm models, hands-on teaching experience, transferrable skills in grant/patent applications and project management alongside new knowledge in product development. Against the backdrop of her notable achievements as a young scientist, she has the capacity to attain research growth through this fellowship and will seize this opportunity to diversify her competency, improve her record of publications, gain independence, build new international networks and apply for an ERC-StG grant- outputs that are expected benchmarks for academic appointments and essential to launch her career within Norway/Scandinavia.