NeuroMOF | Self-propelled Metal-Organic Framework nanocarriers as promising brain delivery platform

Summary
Neurodegenerative diseases severely affect patients’ health resulting in poor quality life and significant impact on global healthcare costs. The mayor challenge is the bypass of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), limiting the diffusion of therapeutic cargo to the central nervous system (CNS). Although emerging technologies based on nanomedicine (liposomes, polymers, etc.) are a promising approach to overcome the BBB, their clinical application is still limited by their lack of in vivo efficacy.

In view of this scenario, a new class of nanoscaled porous Metal-Organic Frameworks (nanoMOFs) has attracted great attention in the biomedical domain. NanoMOFs present several advantages compared to classic nanocarriers: i) their chemical & structural versatility, allowing a suitable biocompatibility and the potential control of their in vivo fate, ii) exceptional loading of challenging ingredients (cosmetics, enzymes, drugs...) together with controlled release under physiological conditions; iii) green and scalable synthesis; iv) lack of in vitro & in vivo toxicity; v) interesting imaging properties. Latest biomedical advances have been focussed to tackle typical administration routes (e.g. oral, intravenous or cutaneous). However, the targeted delivery to the brain has not been under the spotlight within the scientific community.

Thus, the aim of this proposal is to develop a biosafe and efficient nanoMOF platform for brain delivery. Two original strategies will be undertaken to overcome the BBB: targeting by external functionalization with BBB-specific ligands & enzyme immobilization (self-propelled nanomotors), facing up the challenge to control the orientation, stability, density and distribution (symmetric/asymmetric) of the surface agent. Apart from a full physicochemical characterization of these prototypes, BBB crossing will be first assessed by simple and 3D in vitro models and finally, by preliminary in vivo assays.
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More information & hyperlinks
Web resources: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/897678
Start date: 01-07-2021
End date: 30-06-2023
Total budget - Public funding: 160 932,48 Euro - 160 932,00 Euro
Cordis data

Original description

Neurodegenerative diseases severely affect patients’ health resulting in poor quality life and significant impact on global healthcare costs. The mayor challenge is the bypass of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), limiting the diffusion of therapeutic cargo to the central nervous system (CNS). Although emerging technologies based on nanomedicine (liposomes, polymers, etc.) are a promising approach to overcome the BBB, their clinical application is still limited by their lack of in vivo efficacy.

In view of this scenario, a new class of nanoscaled porous Metal-Organic Frameworks (nanoMOFs) has attracted great attention in the biomedical domain. NanoMOFs present several advantages compared to classic nanocarriers: i) their chemical & structural versatility, allowing a suitable biocompatibility and the potential control of their in vivo fate, ii) exceptional loading of challenging ingredients (cosmetics, enzymes, drugs...) together with controlled release under physiological conditions; iii) green and scalable synthesis; iv) lack of in vitro & in vivo toxicity; v) interesting imaging properties. Latest biomedical advances have been focussed to tackle typical administration routes (e.g. oral, intravenous or cutaneous). However, the targeted delivery to the brain has not been under the spotlight within the scientific community.

Thus, the aim of this proposal is to develop a biosafe and efficient nanoMOF platform for brain delivery. Two original strategies will be undertaken to overcome the BBB: targeting by external functionalization with BBB-specific ligands & enzyme immobilization (self-propelled nanomotors), facing up the challenge to control the orientation, stability, density and distribution (symmetric/asymmetric) of the surface agent. Apart from a full physicochemical characterization of these prototypes, BBB crossing will be first assessed by simple and 3D in vitro models and finally, by preliminary in vivo assays.

Status

CLOSED

Call topic

MSCA-IF-2019

Update Date

28-04-2024
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Horizon 2020
H2020-EU.1. EXCELLENT SCIENCE
H2020-EU.1.3. EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
H2020-EU.1.3.2. Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
H2020-MSCA-IF-2019
MSCA-IF-2019