The agreement signed between the entities will launch the Nano4Derm research project, in which ICMAB and Leitat will be in charge of developing the prototypes of the nanocapsules, while Almirall will be in charge of producing the active principles that will be encapsulated. In particular, two types of nanocapsules will be created: Quatsomes and polymeric nanoparticles.
Quatsomes are lipid nanoparticles with greater colloidal stability than liposomes, which favors obtaining high quality pharmaceutical formulations. These are obtained through Delos-Susp, a technology developed by the researchers of the NANOMOL group at ICMAB based on the use of supercritical fluids such as CO2. This technology has many advantages over other methods of manufacture in terms of homogeneity and scalability, since it replaces the use of organic solvents by green solvents.
On the other hand, the polymeric nanocapsules, developed by the Leitat Technology Center, provide versatility to the project since they can be designed with different release profiles of the active substance depending on the need to be addressed.
These new formulations are designed to provide improved topical treatments in terms of side effects, instability of active ingredients and absorption into the skin and to address needs not currently covered, such as antimicrobial resistance.
This project is financed by the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness (MINECO) through the "Convocatoria 2016 del Programa Estatal de I+D+i", aimed at the "Retos Sociales", and co-financed by FEDER funds of the European Union.
Read the press release here.
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