Dipartimento di Scienza e Tecnologia del Farmaco

Descrizione del progetto

Partecipanti al progetto

• Dott. Gian Paolo ZARA (Coordinatore)
• Dott. Roberto CANAPARO (Ricercatore)
• Prof. Roberta CAVALLI (Docente)
• Dott. Chiara DIANZANI (Ricercatore)
• Prof. Carlo FERRETTI (Docente)
• Dott. Elisabetta Muntoni (Tecnico)
• Dott. Loredana SERPE (Ricercatore)

Membri:
Maria Graziella Catalano  (Dip. Scienze Mediche)
Eric Stefano Ciamporcero   
Roberto Frairia  (Dip. Scienze Mediche)
Erica Imbalzano   
Giovanni Maina   (Dip. Scienze Cliniche e Biologiche)
Rosalba Minelli   
Piergiorgio Pettazzoni   
Stefania Pizzimenti  (Dip. Scienze Cliniche e Biologiche)
Federica Rossi  
Francesco Trotta  (Dip. Chimica)

Members of other units:
Barbera Giuseppina, Gasco Paolo, Musicanti Claudia, Civera Pierluigi, Larese Filon Francesca, Pili Roberto, Dianzani Umberto

Partners:
Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, Italy
Department of medical Sciences, University of Turin, Italy  
Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Turin, Italy 
Department of Chemistry, University of Turin, Italy 
Department of Health Sciences, University of Piemonte Orientale, Italy 
Department of Electronics and Telecommunications (DET), Politecnico of Turin, Italy 
Department of Medical, Surgical and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, Italy 
Pili Roberto, Department of Medicine, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, New York, USA 
Nanovector s.r.l., Turin, Italy 

Sponsors:
University of Turin, Research Project 2011 

Description
New generations of drug-delivery nano-vehicles have shown therapeutic potential for almost every branch of medicine. Nanoparticles loaded with anticancer agents or oligonucleotides, potentially useful for gene therapy, are able to act at cellular levels enhancing antitumor efficacy. Glutathione (GSH)-responsive nano-vehicles, which respond to intracellular concentration of GSH, cyclodextrin-based nanosponges and micro and nanobubbles, are emerging as important carriers for targeted drug delivery. The general aim of the project is to prepare, and to evaluate formulations of drug incorporated in these new types of nano-vehicles. The project will be based on 6 working packages (WP) to address preparation, toxicity, pharmacokinetic, skin permeability and the different uses of targeting nanoparticles for drug delivery. In particular, WP1 will be focused on the preparation and characterization of different types of nanoparticles for the delivery of anticancer drugs and nucleic acid (siRNA); WP2 will determine toxicology, pharmacokinetic and the pharmacological significance of each type of nanoparticles employed in this project; WP3 will study skin permeation of all drug loaded nanoparticles used in this study; WP4 will perform “in vitro” and “in vivo” studies to assess the efficacy of drug delivery cyclodextrin-based nanosponges in prostate cancer therapy; WP5 will assess the “in vitro” and “in vivo” uses of GHS-responsive nanoparticles carrying drugs and siRNA in chemo-resistant tumor cells; WP 6 will study the High Energy Shock Waves (HESW) as a tool to activate drug release from nanobubble-carrying anticancer and anti-inflammatory drugs. We believe that this project, organized according to the different skills of the researchers involved, is innovative and the expected results could contribute to the development and use of drug delivery nanoparticles for research and clinical purposes.

Keywords:
Nanoparticles, Drug deliver, Cancer therapy, High Energy Shock Wave, Drug targeting

Links:
Roswell Park - Cancer Institute 
Politecnico of Turin 
Amedeo Avogadro - University of Piemonte Orientale 
University of Trieste