10 Ottobre 2019
POR FESR 2014-2020 BANDO N. 1 e N. 2 adottati con decreto dirigenziale n. 3389 del 30/07/2014 e ss.mm.ii. Regional R&D project, dealing with nanopharmaceutical encapsulation and immune cells engineering in GMP amenable framework for diagnostic applications – closed in 2018
The project aims to overcome technological problems in the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for high impact diseases, such as Melanoma and Multiple Sclerosis. The idea is based on the development of new techniques of cellular engineering and / or selective targeting mediated by nanocarrier and focuses on the exploitation of their multimodal properties: i) their accumulation in the tissues of interest; ii) the possibility to employ them as contrast agents in imaging techniques; iii) the possibility to activate them with low-frequency magnetic fields and / or laser pulses, converting the energy supplied into heat. Recently CERICOL has overcome the state of the art by developing an innovative and tailored technique, both for diagnosis and therapy, with remarkable specificity. In the present project, nano-engineered immune cells will be used to improve the sensitivity and specificity of current techniques, such as MRI, CT and PA on two different models: Autoimmune Multiple Sclerosis Encephalomyelitis and Melanoma. The innovation of this approach is the possibility of selectively reaching different pathological districts through personalized therapies, also allowing a simultaneous non-invasive monitoring of the prognosis with imaging techniques. The selective accumulation, rarely achieved with current techniques, will actually lead to a substantial increase in the effectiveness of local and targeted treatments, with a consequent overall reduction of side effects. The fulfillment of the technical and regulatory requirements for the adaptation to the GMP standards and for the validation of the efficacy of the proposed products will be addressed as well. These activities will allow the Consortium to address the market of pharmaceutical products taking into account the main regulatory requirements. In the framework of the continuously growing nanomedicine market, the industrial business diversification foreseen in the project is particularly attractive for the recovery of market potential and the acquisition of sustainable business sectors.