Nanomedicines for gene and protein delivery
Hélder A. Santos, Department of Biomaterials and Biomedical Technology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, The Netherlands
Monday 10 February 2025, 12.15 PM
ICMAB - Sala d'Actes Carles Miravitlles and ONLINE (Register here)
Abstract
Chemotherapeutic cargo like proteins and RNA-based molecules have emerged as promising therapeutics in oncology and heart diseases due to their great specificity. Many treatment strategies are developed based on protein biologics, such as immunotherapy, starvation therapy, and pro-apoptosis therapy, while some protein biologics have entered the clinics. However, clinical translation is severely impeded by instability, short circulation time, poor transmembrane transportation, and immunogenicity. Nano-based drug delivery platforms are designed to solve those problems and enhance therapeutic efficacy. This presentation first summarizes the different types of therapeutic approaches in clinical and research stages, highlighting their administration limitations. Next, various types of nanoparticles are described to demonstrate how they can overcome such limitations. The potential of nanoparticles are then explored to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of different drug molecules by combinational therapies.
Short bio
Hélder Santos (D.Sc. Tech., Chem. Eng.) is a Full Professor and Chair in Biomedical Engineering, and the Head of the Department of Biomaterials and Biomedical Technology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, The Netherlands. Prof. Santos is also the co-founder of the startups Capsamedix Oy and Medixmicro Oy. Prof. Santos research interests include the development of nanoparticles/nanomedicines and biomaterials for biomedical applications, particularly cancer and heart diseases. His lab makes the unique bridge between medical engineering, pharmaceutical nanotechnology, and tissue engineering by combining unique techniques to develop novel therapeutic formulations for translation into the clinic. He is co-author of more than 550 publications (+27700 citations; h-index = 95) and 6 patents.
DocFam+ Talks
The seminar is organized in collaboration with the DocFam+ doctoral program (MSCA COFUND) and part of the DocFam+ training program (DocFam+ Talks). Fellows from the DocFam+ program are warmly invited to attend and actively participate, particularly by joining the speaker’s coffee session with the fellows, which will take place at 3:00 PM on the same day.
The DocFam+ project is co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Research Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the European Research Executive Agency can be held responsible for them.
ICMAB acknowledges financial support from the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness, through the “Severo Ochoa” Programme for Centres of Excellence in R&D (SEV- 2015-0496, CEX2019-000917-S)
