Nanomedicine and Drug Delivery
We are particularly involved in the translation of ideas from the university through novel pharmaceutical technology. Our scientific research involves the use of nanotechnologies to design innovative nanomedicines. We develop novel nanostructured materials intended to transport drugs and antigens across biological barriers and deliver them to the target tissue. We are specialized in the association of delicate molecules, including peptides, siRNA, and antigens to these nanocarriers.
Research Lines
- Oral Peptide Delivery: Creating new conceptual approaches for delivering protein drugs and genes across complex barriers in the body, such as the nasal, ocular and intestinal barriers.
- Nanovaccines: Designing and developing new nanocarriers for antigen delivery and investigating their adjuvant properties (nanovaccines).
- Oncology (Precision nanomedicine and theragnostics): Designing and developing nano-oncological therapies consisting of multifunctional nanocarriers targeted to the tumor cells, the tumor associated macrophages. (TAM) and the lymphatic vessels
- Regenerative medicine: patient centred solutions for the personalised regeneration of osteoarticular tissues.
- Brain RNA Delivery: the goal is to provide an RNA-based therapy perspective for neurodegenerative diseases targeting the direct cause of the disease instead of its symptoms in the midterm.
- Covid-19: Development of nanotherapies for the prevention and treatment of Covid 19.
Overall, our research has led to the development of potential new treatments in diverse therapeutic areas, with particular emphasis in cancer, ocular diseases, skin diseases, diabetes and obesity, and, in general, autoimmune diseases. In addition, we are currently devoting significant efforts to the development of needle-free HIV vaccine.
All our research activity is part of multidisciplinary consortia, in which experts in various fields and industries are involved
Members
Selected publications
Intracellular Delivery of an Antibody Targeting Gasdermin-B Reduces HER2 Breast Cancer Aggressiveness
Nose-to-brain delivery of enveloped RNA - cell permeating peptide nanocomplexes for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases
Nanotechnologies for the delivery of biologicals: Historical perspective and current landscape
Carboxymethyl‑β‑glucan/chitosan nanoparticles: new thermostable and efficient carriers for antigen delivery