NANOZID · DNA nanohydrogel loaded Liposomal formulations for high loading efficiency of antimicrobial drugs against intracellular bacterial and topical biofilm infections
Horizon 2020 — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
- Duration
- 2019-05-15 → 2022-01-16
- EU contribution
- €214,159
- Participants
- 1
- Scheme
- MSCA-IF-EF-ST
Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.
Results in brief
DNA nanohydrogel loaded Liposomal formulations for high loading efficiency of antimicrobial drugs against intracellular bacterial and topical biofilm infections
The delivery of antimicrobial therapies against persisting biofilm and intracellular infections is challenged by restricted drug penetration and low drug retention. To enhance therapeutic drug concentrations, the use of higher doses of antibiotics risks the development of drug resistant infections and severe drug toxicity. While drug delivery platforms such as liposomes, can enhance the intracellular/biofilm transport of antimicrobial drugs, low drug loading and untimely release of the cargo challenge their potency. Advanced carriers fabricated from nucleic acids are biocompatible nanomaterials which show high loading capacity for antimicrobial drugs. Nevertheless, these carriers are susceptible to nuclease degradation which can compromise cargo delivery. To safeguard antimicrobial systems, the development of a hybrid system comprising nucleic acid nanoparticles coated with a liposome can improve drug loading against persisting infections. The project delivered its primary research objectives of developing a topical hybrid formulation with ideal physicochemical property for the delivery of vancomycin. The secondary objective to examine the distribution (within immune cells and biofilms) and impact on drug release profile was also achieved. Finally, the compatibility and performance of the hybrid formulation was delivered as the third objective. Training objectives aimed to enhance the employability of the early career researcher (ER) by identifying international collaborators and securing a start-up grant were also achieved. The ER secured a funded start-up grant from Tromsø Research Foundation (TFS start-up) which was granted in 2020 and will begin in 2022 after completion of the current grant.
Data: CORDIS, © European Union
Project objective
Dr. Sybil Obuobi was awarded her PhD in Pharmacy at the National University of Singapore (Singapore) in July 2018 and is very excited to pursue a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Tromso The Arctic University of Norway (UiT, Norway) under the supervision of Prof. Natasa Skalko-Basnet, a renowned expert in advanced drug delivery. Their project will exploit DNA nanohydrogels, as a novel universal platform to improve the loading efficiency of antimicrobials in mannosylated liposomes against intracellular and topical biofilm infections. This approach fills the current research gap for high drug loading innovative systems in nanomedicine and holds great promise to improve drug efficacy against difficult-to-reach pathogens thus, there is immense potential for new patentable technologies/products. This area of research will advance knowledge in antimicrobial drug delivery and the outcomes will appeal to formulation scientists, R&D scientists and people with persistent skin infections that impose significant economic challenge and contribute to the spread of antimicrobial resistance. With access to state-of-the-art equipment and interdisciplinary environment within the participating organisations (UiT, University of Helsinki and BIOTEC Pharmacon ASA) and administrative support, Dr. Obuobi will acquire new skills in life sciences, expertise in state-of the art biofilm models, hands-on teaching experience, transferrable skills in grant/patent applications and project management alongside new knowledge in product development. Against the backdrop of her notable achievements as a young scientist, she has the capacity to attain research growth through this fellowship and will seize this opportunity to diversify her competency, improve her record of publications, gain independence, build new international networks and apply for an ERC-StG grant- outputs that are expected benchmarks for academic appointments and essential to launch her career within Norway/Scandinavia.
Original text from CORDIS.
Participants
- UNIVERSITETET I TROMSOE - NORGES ARKTISKE UNIVERSITET · TromsoCoordinatorNorway
Links
Data: CORDIS, © European Union