Projects
Exploring the therapeutic applicability of extracellular vesicles and their natural mechanism of blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier crossing as an innovative drug delivery strategy to the brain. Ghent University
Peripheral blood is separated from the brain by the presence of central nervous system (CNS) barriers These barriers are essential for brain homeostasis, but are also responsible for the inability of many therapeutic molecules to enter the brain The blood-cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) barrier forms a unique interface between blood and CSF and is composed of a single layer of cuboidal choroid plexus epithelial (CPE) cells that surrounds ...
Constrained tryptophan-based oligomers for intracellular and CNS drug delivery. Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Drug load microbubbles for ultrasound targeted delivery in breast cancer therapy: from the model of the canine mammary gland tumors Ghent University
The canine mammary gland tumor offers an interesting animal model for breast cancer in women. Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) may increase the efficacy of chemotherapeutics as drugs (doxorubicin liposomes) can be incorporated into the microbubble's lipid shell. With this innovative project we hope to demonstrate the diagnostic and improved therapeutic efficacy of CEUS in canine mammary gland tumors and to show the canine model's.
Development of a smart bioactive dental cement with targeted and stimulus dependent controlled drug delivery for pulp regeneration. Ghent University
Dental trauma and caries are the two most common reasons for decreased Oral Health Related
Quality of Life. Dental pulp is the innermost layer of a tooth made up of living tissue. It is
responsible for root strength, root growth and innervation in immature permanent teeth. In case
of pulp infection due to dental caries or trauma, the infected pulp is removed and pulp therapy is
carried out with dental cements. This ...
Combination cancer therapy by simultaneous delivery of cationic amphiphilic drugs and RNA therapeutics using a polymer delivery platform Ghent University
Cationic amphiphilic drugs (CADs) can be repurposed as anti-cancer drugs via induction of lysosomal
cell death (LCD), but combination treatment and improved tumor targeting are key to boost antitumor
effects. Recent research has identified CADs as cellular delivery enhancers of RNA drugs via
non-lethal lysosomal membrane permeabilization (LMP), thus enabling cancer combination therapy.
To allow co-encapsulation and ...
Corneal endothelial regeneration through mechanotaxis and targeted drug delivery: Curing a blinding disease. University of Antwerp
Repurposing of cationic amphiphilic drugs as adjuvants to enhance the cellular delivery of small interfering RNA Ghent University
The therapeutic potential of small interfering RNA (siRNA) has since long been recognized. However, its clinical translation is limited by various extra-and intracellular drug delivery barriers. The delivery of siRNA is typically facilitated by its encapsulation in lipid-or polymer nanoparticles (nanomedicines, NMs), which is essential to improve in vivo biodistribution and enhance delivery across cellular membranes. Unfortunately, upon ...
Anisotropic calcium carbonate particles for biosensing and intracellular delivery Ghent University
NExt generation of drug delivery carriers necessitate precise control of morphology, porosity, size and loading capacity. Biocompatible calcium carbonate particles represent and ideal system for building an elaborate drug delivery system. Understanding fundamental mechanisms which drive the formation of calcium carbonate particles is a growing area of research. The particles are relatively simple to make, inexpensive, and biocompatible making ...
Exosome-inspired nanocarriers for the delivery of small interfering RNA Ghent University
Drug delivery across intra-and extracellular barriers remains a major bottleneck in the clinical application of siRNA. To overcome these hurdles, siRNAs need to be packaged in nanosized drug carriers. An exciting new research area involves using cell-derived microvesicles (e.g. exosomes) as delivery tool for macromolecular therapeutics. The major objective is to evaluate exosomes and exosome-mimetic nanoparticles for siRNA delivery