Project description
A new light-activated approach to treating skin cancer
Skin cancer is the most common human malignancy. With disease prevalence expected to rise, there is an urgent need for more effective and accessible treatments. Photodynamic therapy, which uses light-activated molecules to destroy cancer cells, constitutes a promising alternative. However, its effectiveness is limited by poor penetration of light into skin tissue. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the MNA-Cancer project proposes to develop nanoparticles that respond to X-rays instead of visible light. Dissolvable microneedles deliver these nanoparticles precisely to tumour sites, generating cancer-killing molecules deep within tissue. The approach will be tested in preclinical models with real-time monitoring, and is hoped to improve both the diagnosis and treatment of skin cancer.
Objective
Skin cancer (SC) is the most common human malignancy with rapidly increasing incidence due to numerous environmental, genetic, and metabolic reasons. Highly effective, convenient, inexpensive and widely deployable SC diagnostic and therapies are urgently needed to address this public health issue. Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) is one of the available non-invasive SC treatments that involves the combination of photosensitizer (PS), light and molecular oxygen to elicit cancer cells death by generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Despite its potential, PDTs effectiveness is limited by issues such as photobleaching, self-aggregation of PSs, and inadequate visible light penetration into skin tissues due to absorption by photoreceptive chromophores, necessitating further research and development.
Our proposed approach introduces a novel process using X-ray active nanotheranostic photosensitizers (NT@PS), which are developed by combining scintillators metal (e.g. Gd) with PSs (e.g. Rose Bengal) to enhance ROS production, photostability, and offer persistent luminescence properties. The outermost layer of skin limits the passive transport of PSs, therefore microneedle arrays (MNAs) technology will be used to achieve effective NT@PS delivery to deep SC sites. MNAs are an emerging drug delivery platform that addresses the limitations of conventional needle-based systems. Upon successful delivery and diffusion of NT@PS through the MNAs device, X-PDT will be assessed in-vivo using subcutaneously implanted SC cells, with real-time monitoring through Raman spectroscopy. Overall, this project aims to revolutionize skin cancer diagnosis and treatment through the development of an innovative combinatorial nanotheranostic system.
Additionally, this fellowship and mentorship from leading researcher will lay a solid foundation for the fellow independent research career, providing access to a dynamic research environment, comprehensive training and a robust collaboration network
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.
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine oncology
- natural sciences physical sciences optics spectroscopy
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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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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
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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
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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.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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Call for proposal
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2024-PF-01
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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.
BT7 1NN BELFAST
United Kingdom
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.