Nanomedicine

endika · July 14, 2016 · Leave a Comment

PneumoNP is a collaborative project funded under the 7th Framework Programme of the European Commission aimed at the development of a theragnostic system for the treatment of Gram-negative bacterial infections of the lung, with focus on the bacteria Klebsiella pneumoniae.

The project has a multidisciplinary character and faces the challenge to develop a new inhalation system specifically designed by the partner INGENIATRICS (Spain) to achieve efficient delivery of novel nanopharmaceuticals into the lungs. The nanopharmaceuticals will consist of a nanocarrier (NC) functionalized with an antimicrobial peptide (AMP). CIDETEC contributes to the NC with single-chain polymer nanoparticles and Utrecht University with liposomes. Two SMEs (SETLANCE – Italy and ADENIUM BIOTECH – Denmark) are producing AMPs which are being loaded to the nanocarriers and tested in vitro (ITEM Fraunhofer – Germany) and in vivo (clinicians at Erasmus Medical Centre Rotterdam – The Netherlands) against different strains of bacteria in order to select the most efficient and promising nanopharmaceuticals. Furthermore, the research centre CIC biomaGUNE (Spain) is studying the in vivo biodistribution of selected AMP-NC systems in order to select the ones which are better retained in lungs. In parallel, a detection kit is being developed by SME PATHOFINDER (The Netherlands) through the development of Multiplex PCR Diagnostics for Infectious Diseases. The consortium comprises two more organizations: the project manager EURICE (Germany) and partner UMAPS (France) devoted to dissemination and exploitation.
The project has been planned to reach a pre-clinical phase and to set the basis to further developing the best performance NC-AMPs in GMP conditions to facilitate translation to the clinic in the future.
The PneumoNP project is expecting to generate new knowledge in the field of nanotechnology-based therapeutics and to assist the fight against the phenomenon of bacterial resistance to antibiotics, a major health issue alarm which is considered urgent not only in Europe. In this sense, PneumoNP has also participated in the European Antibiotics Awareness Day (EAAD) organizing an open door talk for citizens on the 18th November 2015 “Let’s talk about the proper use of antibiotics!” (https://cidetec.es/en/noticia.aspx?origen=sala_prensa&id=b17de003-b4b1-4351-9863-cada247d2d54&pagina=0) with the aim of sensitize the society to this hurdle and make it aware of the efforts that scientists are carrying out.

endika · July 14, 2016 · Leave a Comment

PneumoNP es un proyecto de colaboración financiado por el 7º Programa Marco de la Comisión Europea destinada a la elaboración de un Sistema de theragnostico para el tratamiento de infecciones bacterianas gram-negativas de pulmón, con enfoque en la bacteria Klebsiella pneumoniae.

El proyecto tiene un carácter multidisciplinar y se enfrenta al reto de desarrollar un nuevo sistema de inhalación diseñado específicamente por el socio INGENIATRICS (España) para lograr la etrega eficiente de nuevos productos de nanofarmacia en los pulmones. Los nanopharmaceuticals consisten en un nanotransportador (NC) funcionalizado con un péptido antimicrobiano (AMP). CIDETEC contribuye a la NC con nanopartículas de polímeros de cadena sencilla y la Universidad de Utrecht con liposomas. Dos PYMEs (SETLANCE – Italia y BIOTECH ADENIUM – Dinamarca) están produciendo AMP que se cargan en los nanoportadores y son probados in vitro (PUNTO Fraunhofer – Alemania) e in vivo (los médicos en el Centro Médico Erasmus de Rotterdam – Países Bajos) contra diferentes cepas de bacterias con el fin de seleccionar las particulas nanofarmaceuticas más eficientes y prometedoras. Por otra parte, el centro de investigación CIC biomaGUNE (España) está estudiando la biodistribución in vivo de los sistemas de AMP-NC seleccionados con el fin de seleccionar aquellos que son mejor retenidos en los pulmones. Paralelamente la PYME PATHOFINDER (Holanda) está desarrollando un kit de detección a través del desarrollo de PCR múltiple de Diagnóstico de Enfermedades Infecciosas. El consorcio se compone de dos organizaciones más: el director del proyecto EURICE (Alemania) y un socio, UMAP (Francia) dedicados a la difusión y explotación.
El proyecto ha sido diseñado para llegar a una fase pre-clínica y establecer la base para seguir desarrollando la mejor actuación de NC-AMPs en condiciones GMP para facilitar su uso en la clínica en el futuro.
Se espera que el proyecto PneumoNP genere nuevos conocimientos en el campo de la terapéutica basada en la nanotecnología y ayude a la lucha contra el fenómeno de la resistencia bacteriana a los antibióticos, un importante problema de salud considerado urgente ya no sólo en Europa. En este sentido, PneumoNP también ha participado en el Día europeo de la difusión de antibióticos (EAAD) organizando una charla de puertas abiertas al público en general, el 18 de noviembre de 2015: “Hablemos sobre el uso adecuado de los antibióticos!” (https://cidetec.es/en/noticia.aspx?origen=sala_prensa&id=b17de003-b4b1-4351-9863-cada247d2d54&pagina=0) con el objetivo de sensibilizar y concienciar a la sociedad a cerca de este obstáculo así como de los esfuerzos que los científicos están llevando a cabo.

endika · May 26, 2016 · Leave a Comment

En el marco del proyecto europeo PneumoNP, liderado por CIDETEC, se ha organizado un Workshop sobre la resistencia bacteriana a los antibióticos y las nuevas tecnologías que se están desarrollando para hacer frente a este problema.

El evento, que se celebra en colaboración con los proyectos ITN/IMI-Translocation, FORMAMP y NAREB, tendrá lugar en la Jacobs University Bremen (JUB) durante los días 10-14 de Julio de 2016.

Inscripción y más información en https://www.labsexplorer.com/site/pneumonp_3

endika · November 19, 2015 · Leave a Comment

CIDETEC and Biodonostia have organised an event aimed at discussing the consequences of the misuse and abuse in the consumption of antibiotics

On the occasion of the celebration of the European day for the responsible use of antibiotics, last November 18^th, the Technological Centre CIDETEC and the Institute for Health Research Biodonostiaorganized the event: ”Let’s talk about the proper use of antibiotics!” which aimed to raise public awareness of the consequences of misuse and abuse of the consumption of antibiotics while making public the scientific advances in this field through nanotechnology.

What is resistance to antibiotics? How can antibiotics be used responsibly? What efforts are being made in the field of research to develop new antibiotics or other alternatives? And … what does nanotechnology have to do with all this? These questions were tried to be answered plainly in the Keler space in San Sebastian by means of two scientific presentations and interactions with the audience in a relaxed and close atmosphere.

This event was organized by the Technological Centre CIDETEC and Biodonostia Health Research Institute which coincided in time with the European day for the rational use of antibiotics which is an annual European public health initiative. Its aim was to raise awareness regarding the threat that the resistance of bacteria to antibiotics poses to public health, and promote its responsible use. Public awareness can substantially benefit from this.

The event included a lecture from Doctor Maialen Ibarguren, specialist of the Donostialdea OSI and resarcher from Biodonostia IIS. Doctor Ibarguren spoke of resistance to antibiotics, about how some bacteria are naturally resistant to certain antibiotics but that in many cases it becomes an acquired resistance. Resistant bacteria survive in the presence of antibiotics and continue to multiply, not curing the disease. One of the factors that most influences the appearance of resistant bacteria is the use of excessively “powerful” antibiotics (ie antibiotics that are useful in the treatment of a specific type of bacteria but also for many others too), in order to treat infections caused by bacteria that could be eliminated by using “simpler” antibiotics; they are often used like” sledgehammers to crack nuts”. A reasonable use of antibiotics is required, which means using antibiotics only when there is a bacterial infection and to do so with the appropriate antibiotic, the exact dose and not prolonging the treatment unnecessarily. Different national and international studies suggest that between 30-50% of the prescription of antibiotics can be improved; the data referring to the BAC show similar figures.

Moreover, the researcher Marco Marradi presented the European project ‘PneumoNP’ (https://www.labsexplorer.com/site/pneumonp_3) led by CIDETEC, which tries to tackle this problem through the development of new drugs and diagnostic systems using tools such as nanotechnology to improve effectiveness and reduce the side effects of drugs. As the researcher explained, one example of the application of nanotechnology is that of nanodiagnostics, which aims to develop systems and image analysis based on nanotechnology to detect a possible disease at earlier stages both in vivo (nanoparticles that can penetrate the body and identify the presence of a pathogen or cancer cell) or in vitro (based biosensors nanodevices). In nanotherapy, the aim is to selectively direct nanosystems to cells or tissues in order to transport and release drugs and thus achieve a more effective treatment, minimizing side effects. Also, the use of nanoparticles can improve the efficacy of drugs by increasing water solubility and body stability while protecting its physical and chemical degradation as well as increasing body exposure time and preventing rapid excretion by easily penetrating infected areas.

In conclusion, the prudent use of antibiotics is everyone’s duty: it can help stop the development of resistant bacteria and make antibiotics remain effective for future generations. The use of nanotechnology to explore new forms of treatment is a challenge that researchers need to undertake, as nanomedicine is today one of the most important emerging fields within medical research.

endika · October 14, 2015 · Leave a Comment

Representatives of the European project PeptiCaps gather to hold the project’s launch meeting

On 6 October 2015, the official launch meeting of the PeptiCaps project was held. Its objective is to produce and secure approval (up to pilot scale) for a new family of nanocapsules that respond to stimuli and which are capable of encapsulating and protecting active ingredients with dermatological applications such as allergic contact dermatitis, skin irritations, sun damage and pigmentation problems.

To obtain these “smart” nanocapsules, the project will develop macro-emulsifiers which, by accurately monitoring the hydrophilic-lipophilic balance, will enable active ingredients to be released in response to a change in pH and/or the presence of certain enzymes which are present in the skin when dermatological disorders of this kind occur. The effectiveness of the smart nanocapsules will be measured by comparing them with equivalent products that do not respond to stimuli.

Furthermore, given the growing public and academic concern regarding the safety, health risks and ecotoxicity of engineered nanomaterials, the project will also study these aspects of the products that are developed in accordance with the guidelines set by the OECD.

The project has received €3,850,000 of funding and will last for 3 years. 4 companies and 5 research centres from different countries such as France, Italy, Spain, Finland and Israel are participating in the consortium, which will be led by CIDETEC.

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