BIONICS · A biomimetic and neuroprotective delivery nanocapsule for the targeted treatment of post-ischemic stroke effects
Horizon 2020 — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
- Duration
- 2018-05-01 → 2020-04-30
- EU contribution
- €168,277
- Participants
- 1
- Scheme
- MSCA-IF-EF-ST
Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.
Results in brief
A biomimetic and neuroprotective delivery nanocapsule for the targeted treatment of post-ischemic stroke effects
ISSUE BEING ADDRESSED Ischemic stroke occurs when an artery of the brain blocks due to a clot, resulting in reduced blood supply and subsequent depletion of oxygen and nutrients that lead to neuronal cell death. The damaged brain tissue is further affected during the restoration of the blood flow due to the increased production of small molecules called reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS and RNS, respectively) that lead to the so-called oxidative stress. This subsequently leads to the overproduction of the enzyme, matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), that further damages the brain due to the loosening of the physical barrier between the brain and the blood, called the blood-brain barrier (BBB). To date, the current treatments for ischemic stroke are limited to substances that break the clot (e.g., thrombolytics like the tissue plasminogen activator, tPA) or methods for its removal like mechanical thrombectomy. Although these treatments can save the life of the patients, they fail further to protect the damaged brain from the produced oxidative stress. IMPORTANCE FOR SOCIETY The development of a therapeutic that will ameliorate the post-ischemic stroke effects would improve the quality of life for stroke patients by ameliorating speech, motor, and cognitive problems. Additionally, it would reduce the economic burden attributed to the overall healthcare strategies for stroke survivors. Finally, it has been shown that antioxidants can be used as therapeutics also after a recurrent stroke rendering the proposed system a good alternative for recurrent stroke patients as well. OVERALL OBJECTIVES The main goal of this project was the fabrication of a biocompatible and antioxidant nanosystem that would have the ability to encapsulate specific therapeutics and deliver them into the damaged brain. This antioxidant system would reduce oxidative stress and the overproduced enzyme MMP-9, aiming at improving the post-ischemia symptoms.
Data: CORDIS, © European Union
Project objective
Ischemic stroke occurs due to reduced perfusion to a brain region, because of the blockage of a blood vessel, resulting in death or permanent neurological deficits. It presents high percentages of mortality and morbidity worldwide and market analysis in five major EU countries showed that the total number of first-ever incidents of stroke cases will rise to 1.63 million (43.7% growth) by 2034. Although, many treatments that make use of therapeutic nanoparticles have been presented, unfortunately to date, no effective treatment has been found to prevent damage to the ischemic brain after stroke. Oxidative stress is related to the pathogenesis of stroke and overproduction of ROS and RNS are thought to be the main cause of this. In addition, the overproduction of MMP-9 has been related to many post-stroke side effects. Thus, I propose the development of a biomimetic and neuroprotective lipid nanocapsule (BIONICS) for the targeted treatment of post-stroke side effects. BIONICS will safely deliver anti-oxidant nanoparticles (CeO2) and iNOS inhibitors (L-NIL) across the BBB aiming at reducing the overproduced ROS, RNS and MMP-9, resulting in to the amelioration of the neurological deficits caused by oxidative stress. Through this project, the new skills in the synthesis of antioxidant nanocapsules, the use of molecular biology techniques, design and fabrication of microfluidic models, project management, grant writing, and other transferable skills that I will acquire in IIT, will help my future career plans providing knowledge and expertise in a field where my knowledge is limited. This action will also give me the opportunity to transfer my pre-gained knowledge through seminars/workshops to the institution where my research will be carried out. Overall, I believe that BIONICS will have a significant impact on my short and long-term career goals and will bring me one step closer to my impending goal of the independent researcher.
Original text from CORDIS.
Participants
- FONDAZIONE ISTITUTO ITALIANO DI TECNOLOGIA · GenovaCoordinatorItaly
Links
Data: CORDIS, © European Union