Project description
Magnetic nanoparticles with improved thermal properties for more effective cancer therapies
Unfortunately, cancer is a complicated disease – some types are difficult to treat with chemotherapy, radiation therapy or surgery. Thankfully, new therapies that are expected to boost survival rates of patients are being tested: examples are magnetic hyperthermia and heat-mediated chemotherapy. These both rely on the use of magnetic nanoparticles that act as heat agents and burn tumour cells. The EU-funded HyperCube project aims to scale up the production of magnetic iron oxide nanocubes with improved synthesis, for use in clinical tests. Optimising their magneto-thermal properties will benefit magnetic hyperthermia, since a smaller dose of magnetic materials will need to be injected intratumourally. Thanks to their improved synthesis, the nanoparticles will combine magnetic hyperthermia with chemotherapy to achieve a synergistic effect.
Objective
This project aims at the scale up production, characterization, future commercialization and clinical translation of magnetic iron oxides nanocubes of high magnetic and structural quality and the design and production of an in-flow set up for the further functionalization of the nanocubes with a thermo-responsive (TR) polymer shell. The nanocubes and TR-nanocubes are aimed to be used primarily as heat mediators in magnetic hyperthermia (MH) and as heat-mediated drug agents for the delivery of chemotherapeutic drugs in a heat triggered-mediated chemotherapy for the treatment of tumors. Their use as contrast agents in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic particle imaging (MPI) stands as secondary applications and it will also be relevant in this project. Indeed, given the control over the materials, the scale up synthesis of nanocubes and the in-flow production of TR-nanocubes, we will deliver an unprecedented benchmark scaled product of nanocubes with optimal magneto-heat properties that shall ensure the transition of such materials towards the market and the clinics. In comparison to the standardly used and commercially available magnetic nanoparticles, the high magneto-heat performances at clinically safe magnetic radiofrequency, of such nanocubes will impact the treatment of tumor by MH, by multiple aspects: i) requiring less dose of magnetic materials to be injected intratumorally; ii) unique actuation of dual combination therapy of MH and local heat-triggered drug release, which also will favor a more efficacious therapy at reduced dose of magnetic materials; iii) further degradation and clearance of the heat-mediator nanocubes thus enabling the further investigation of tumour progression by MRI, overcoming the current limitation of iron oxide nanoparticles now employed in MH for the treatment of Glioblastoma Multiforme. Instead, their magnetic response at frequency range of 20-40 kHz will make them appealing as contrast agents in MPI.
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.
- engineering and technology electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering information engineering telecommunications radio technology radio frequency
- natural sciences chemical sciences polymer sciences
- engineering and technology medical engineering diagnostic imaging magnetic resonance imaging
- engineering and technology nanotechnology nano-materials
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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.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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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.
ERC-POC-LS - ERC Proof of Concept Lump Sum Pilot
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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) ERC-2019-PoC
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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.
16163 Genova
Italy
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.