Heating triggered drug release from nanometric inorganic-metal organic framework composites (HeatNMof). (HeatNMof)

Although recent advances in nanotechnology have provided an excellent platform to revolutionize the domain of health, the efficient and target delivery of many potent drugs in the body still remains an important challenge due to important drawbacks either from the drug (bioavailability, toxicity, etc.) and/or from the nanocarrier (biocompatibility, reproducibility, insufficient targeting). Consequently, there is currently a real demand for drug nanocarriers able to solve these matters for the different administration routes. HeatNMof project aims to develop smart multifunctional nanocarriers of challenging antitumoral drugs based on versatile highly porous biocompatible nanometric Metal Organic Frameworks, associated with exceptional drug payloads and controlled releases, and photo- and/or magnetic inorganic nanoparticles, providing both a specific control of reactions inside living entities (i.e. heating-triggered drug release) and additional properties such as imaging (magnetic resonance, thermal or optoacoustic imaging) and/ or hyperthermia therapy. The successful development of this project, involving academic and industrial partners, will contribute to the improvement of the highly societal relevant cancer therapy. This research objective is strongly related with the prime training/networking aim of HeatNMof: to train the next generation of materials scientists in a highly interdisciplinary and intersectorial research environment, such that they can soundly address upcoming challenges concerning nanomedicine, from the development, optimization and (physicochemical and biological) characterization of inorganic and hybrid materials, as well as their interaction with living entities, with a strong focus on drug delivery platforms based on nanomaterials. HeatNMof will train the next generation of material scientists with sound expertise in nanomedicine, highly needed to bring advanced materials as proposed from the bench to society.

Keywords:NANOPARTICLES

Disciplines:Soft condensed matter

Project type:Collaboration project