Project description
Nanoparticle-based therapy for pancreatic cancer
Recent years have witnessed the contribution of nanotechnology to the development of novel anti-cancer drug carriers. However, the immunogenicity and targeting efficiency of nanomaterials has not been investigated in depth. The EU-funded MINT project aims to develop immunocompatible tumour-targeting metal oxide nanocrystals, coated with extracellular vesicles. These novel nanocarriers will be employed to deliver two inhibitors to the microenvironment of pancreatic cancer. These two drugs have the potential to override the complexity and inaccessibility of pancreatic tumours and improve the outcome of therapy by depleting the tumour stroma and normalising tumour vascularisation.
Objective
Different nanomaterials were developed so far in particular against cancer, paid very little attention to their potential immunogenicity, to their final destiny, as well as to the importance of zero-delivery in unwanted places. Thus, there is still a huge disproportion between the present nanomedicine tools and the clinical requirements. The ambitious purpose of the MINT project is to develop immunocompatible tumor targeted zinc oxide nanocrystals (ZnO-NCs) coated by extracellular vesicles (EVs) with enhanced drug delivery capabilities to cancer cells, by disturbing the supportive tumor microenvironment of pancreatic cancer, one of the most lethal human malignancies. Moreover, ZnO-NCs is doped with transition metal elements to be probed for treatment monitoring.
In recent years while several therapeutic advances were implemented in many cancer types, the scenario of pancreatic cancer remains unchanged. The main factor behind the limited efficacy of chemotherapeutics in pancreatic cancer is its complex microenvironment. We propose to deliver Hedgehog pathway inhibitor & vascular endothelial growth factor receptor kinase inhibitor simultaneously through the multifunctional EV-coated doped ZnO-NCs to deplete tumor stroma, normalize tumor vascularity and improve pancreatic cancer therapeutic index.
The proposed Fellowship will enable a highly interdisciplinary collaboration between the Researcher, experienced in targeted therapy & pancreatic cancer biology, and the supervisor, pioneer in designing nanotheranostics. These working conditions will effectively promote the Researcher’s professional development, providing her with excellent new expertise in nanotheranostics and fundamental leadership skills, significantly widening her career perspectives. The project outcomes will be of tremendous benefit to the European biomedical sectors, bridge the current gap between the conventional therapies and the Frontier research in the field of cancer nanomedicine.
Fields of science
- natural scienceschemical sciencesinorganic chemistrytransition metals
- natural sciencesbiological sciencescell biology
- medical and health sciencesmedical biotechnologynanomedicine
- engineering and technologynanotechnologynano-materialsnanocrystals
- medical and health sciencesclinical medicineoncologypancreatic cancer
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
MSCA-IF-EF-ST - Standard EFCoordinator
10129 Torino
Italy