Design and development of advanced NAnomedicines to overcome Biological BArriers and to treat severe diseases

Within the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions Program. an Innovative Training Network is being funded for a 48 month period.to the design and development of advanced NAnomedicines to overcome Biological BArriers and to treat severe diseases.

Many therapeutic targets are shielded behind biological barriers, limiting the possibility to reach them with conventional drugs or diagnostic probes. Biological barriers are even more problematic for most biological pharmaceutics, such as recombinant proteins, antibodies and gene therapeutics. The most promising solution to this challenge is the use of nanovehicles for specific targeting and delivery. The NABBA project will train ESRs, focusing on key aspects of nanobiotechnology : (i) design and chemical synthesis of different types of NPs, (ii) related techniques of detection and characterization, (iii) strategies of loading, targeting and delivery of drugs or diagnostic probes ; (iv) proof of principle of pharmacological activity including pharmacokinetics and biodistribution. As a peculiar feature of NABBA, strong emphasis will be devoted to molecular mechanisms ruling biological barriers under physiological and pathological conditions, in order to develop novel nanotechnological expedients for their crossing. Strong emphasis will be devoted to advanced chemistry issues, enabling new synthetic strategies either for NP assembly or functionalization with molecules responsible of biological interactions, such as carbohydrates of peptides. ESRs will strongly benefit from a network of internationally recognized scientists in the field of chemistry, nanobiotechnology and nanomedicine, and the participation of companies with relevant interests and expertise in the field.
Contact for more information : Prof. F. Nicotra : francesco.nicotra@unimib.it