Project description
Glycans to shield nanoparticles from the immune system
Nanoparticles have the potential to address current challenges in the diagnosis and treatment of several diseases as well as the vaccines against them. However, they exhibit limited stability and are recognised by the immune system, which leads to reduced targeting efficacy. Upon contact with biological fluids, nanoparticles acquire proteins on their surface, known as the protein corona. To overcome this problem, the EU-funded Glyco-NPs project proposes to synthesise a range of nanoparticles decorated with synthetic and naturally occurring glycans on their surface. This will not only prevent unspecific protein interaction but also deter immune responses and improve the bloodstream circulation half-life of nanoparticles.
Objective
Nanomedicine is currently the most studied and promising topics in the field of biomedical technology, which is focused on developing nanoparticles. The reason for this is that these materials present unique properties such as size, high ratio area/ volume, chemical reactivity, that offer potential solutions for many of the current challenges in diagnosis, therapy and vaccines on several diseases. However, the safe use of NPs in clinical applications is not established yet. At present, the NPs have limited stability in complex cell media, enhanced recognition by the immunological system and reduced targeting efficacy as a result of the protein corona formation. Studies in Dr. Monopoli´s laboratory at RSCI have demonstrated that glycosylation of the protein corona plays an important role in maintaining the colloidal stability of nanoparticles and influences nanoparticle-cell interactions. The proposed research programme will utilize the combination of interdisciplinary and intersectoral approaches (synthetic chemistry, physical chemistry, glycoprofiling and proteomics, an inter-sectoral secondment (CIC biomaGUNE, Prof Sergio Moya to learn fluorescence correlation spectroscopy and test the NP targeting efficacy) to synthetise a range of nanoparticles (NPs) decorated with synthetic and naturally occurring glycans (hence, Glyco-NPs) in order to: 1), increase the NPs' colloidal stability, 2) attenuate the unspecific protein interaction and 3) increase the NPs circulation half-life into the bloodstream. Together with my supervisor, we have designed a training plan that includes new research (glycoprofiling and bio-nanointeractions), and transferable (project management, leadership, innovation) skills.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins proteomics
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules carbohydrates
- engineering and technology nanotechnology nano-materials
- natural sciences chemical sciences physical chemistry
- natural sciences physical sciences optics spectroscopy
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-IF-2019
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
D02 YN77 DUBLIN 2
Ireland
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.