Magnetic Nanohybrids for Cancer Therapy

Project Information

MaNaCa

Grant agreement ID: 857502

DOI

10.3030/857502

Project closed

EC signature date 24 June 2019

Start date 1 October 2019

End date 31 March 2023

Funded under

• Twinning of research institutions

Total cost

€ 798 112,50

EU contribution

€ 798 112,50

Coordinated by

INSTITUTE FOR PHYSICAL RESEARCH OF NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF ARMENIA
Armenia

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - MaNaCa (Magnetic Nanohybrids for Cancer Therapy)

Reporting period: 2021-01-01 to 2023-03-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The MaNaCa project targetted developing the scientific and technological capacity as well as raising the research profile of the Institute for Physical Research of the National Academy of Sciences (IPR-NAS) in Armenia. From a scientific standpoint, MaNaCa focused on the structural and magnetic characterization of magnetic nanohybrids and their application for cancer therapy. The project's aim was accomplished by networking IPR-NAS with two internationally-leading research organisations: the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH) in Greece and the University of Duisburg – Essen (UDE) in Germany. Throughout the project, the research partners were supported for management and dissemination by Intelligentsia Consultants Sàrl (INT). During the 3,5 year long project, the partners carried out a research and innovation strategy with these objectives:

1. Stimulating scientific excellence and innovation capacity of IPR-NAS with regard to magnetic nanohybrids for cancer therapy.
2. Improving the career prospects of early-stage researchers of IPR-NAS and the Twinning partners.
3. Raising the research profile of IPR-NAS and the Twinning Partners.

Effective cancer therapy is one of the grand challenges of the 21st century. Advances in improving the efficacy and reliability of the present-day cancer therapies will not only translate into a broad scale sociological impact, but also generate vast economic benefits. Besides the most familiar present-day cancer therapies, i.e. radiotherapy and chemotherapy, magnetically stimulated therapy like hyperthermia and magneto-mechanical induced cell death of tumour tissue has evolved into an approved therapy for cancer competing with chemotoxic and radiological approaches.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

The main work performed and results achieved during the project were the following:

WP1 Exchange of senior researchers
• 4.1 person-months of senior researcher visits from IPR-NAS to UDE.
• 0.3 person-months of senior researcher visits from UDE to IPR-NAS.
• 4.3 person-months of senior researcher visits from IPR-NAS to AUTH.
• 0.3 person-months of senior researcher visits from UDE to AUTH.
• 0.5 person-months of senior researcher visits from AUTH to UDE.
• 1st Training Workshop held during 27-28 July 2020 (Zoom). 38 people (33 x early-stage researchers, 5 x senior researchers, 58% female) participated in the workshop.
• 2nd Training Workshop held during 25-28 August 2020 (Hybrid: Zoom/Thessaloniki). The workshop/summer school - with 78 participants from 11 countries - was held in English.
• 3rd Training Workshop held during 16-18 June 2021 (Zoom). 98 people from 13 countries attended the Workshop.
• 4th Training Workshop held during 21-22 September 2021 (Zoom). The workshop was focused on the functional magnetic nanoparticles synthesis, their complex structural and magnetic investigations and application in cancer therapy.
• 5th Training Workshop held during 7-9 April 2022 in Thessaloniki, Greece (Physical). This workshop focused on structural and magnetic characterization of magnetic nanohybrids and their application for cancer therapy.
• 6th and 7th Training Workshops on Horizon Europe proposal writing held during 20-21 September 2022 in Yerevan, Armenia (Physical).

WP2 Exchange of early-stage researchers
• 3.8 person-months of early-stage researcher visits from IPR-NAS to UDE.
• 0.3 person-months of early-stage researcher visits from UDE to IPR-NAS.
• 5.7 person-months of early-stage researcher visits from IPR-NAS to AUTH.
• 1.5 person-months of early-stage researcher visits from AUTH to IPR-NAS.
• 0.9 person-months of early-stage researcher visits from AUTH to UDE.
• 3.4 person-months of early-stage researcher visits from UDE to AUTH.
• The 1st Summer School was held during 25-28 August 2020 with a hybrid format.
• The 2nd Summer School was held during 16-18 June 2021 with a hybrid format.
• The 3rd Summer School was held during 3 March 2023 in Yerevan, Armenia (Physical).
• The partners have agreed the preliminary structure for a joint PhD programme, which will allow the admitted PhD students to benefit from the cultural and educational experiences from spending time in Germany, Greece and Armenia.

WP3 Dissemination and outreach
• Project website (www.h2020-manaca.eu) received 2100+ unique visitors.
• 190+ leaflets downloaded from project website, 70+ posters downloaded from project website.
• 7 research papers have been published in international journals.
• 30 research papers and posters were presented at 16 different international conferences.
• 1st APRICOT international conference was held in Yerevan, Armenia, during 1-4 March 2023.

WP4 Project management
• The project kick-off meeting was held during 4 October 2019 and hosted by UDE in Duisburg.
• Subsequent consortium meetings were held in conjunction with the project's workshops, summer schools and conference.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

The project’s main achievements were:
1. The consortium partners’ early-stage researchers have been trained in magnetic nanomaterial synthesis, structural, magnetic and magnetic heating characterization methods during their visits at IPR-NAS, AUTH and UDE.
2. The consortium partners have synthesised 24 samples (Fe-Fe3C)/C by solid-phase pyrolysis of iron ferrocene and comprehensive structural and magnetic studies have been performed. The research was conducted with the participation of scientists from IPR-NAS during their visits to AUTH and UDE.
3. Thanks to the efforts of the consortium partners’ early-stage researchers, interesting experimental results were obtained; 7 articles were published in highly-cited international journals. Two more manuscripts are under preparation.

The project's progress towards its expected impacts are:
Impact 1: Increased research excellence of IPR-NAS in magnetic nanohybrids for cancer therapy
Based on the obtained experimental results, 7 research papers were published in high impact journals that reflect an increase in research excellence of IPR-NAS.

Impact 2: Enhancement of reputation, attractiveness and networking channels of IPR-NAS
The conducted workshops, summer school and weekly seminars helped to improve the research and technical competence of IPR-NAS’ researchers so that they can effectively assess experimental results and make good scientific presentations.

Impact 3: Improved capability of IPR-NAS to compete successfully for national, EU and internationally competitive research funding
IPR-NAS managed to win six research projects during the project.

Impact 4: Contribution to the research and innovation priorities of Armenia
The Armenian government supported the synthesis and study of ferromagnetic nanocomposite materials for biomedical applications and helped IPR-NAS to purchase a Vibrating Sample Magnetometer for magnetic investigations, magnetic hyperthermia device “MagnethermTM - NAN201003” and transmission electron microscope Talos F200i.

Impact 5: Support research and innovation on a European level
1. IPR-NAS prepared and submitted a project proposal to the HORIZON-WIDERA-2022-TALENTS-01-01 – (ERA Chairs) programme.
2. IPR-NAS and AUTH prepared and submitted a project proposal to the RA Science Committee “Adjunct Research Professorship Program (Remote Laboratory)” programme.
3. IPR-NAS and UDE are preparing an Armenian-German bilateral project proposal.

MaNaCa Logo

Training Workshop and Summer School - August 2020