SUNSET · Targeting cancer with multi-engineered selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs): Development of a biocompatible nanocomposite for targeted gene therapy in BRAF-mutated resistant melanoma.
Horizon Europe — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
- Duration
- 2023-06-01 → 2025-05-31
- EU contribution
- €187,624
- Participants
- 1
- Scheme
- HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF
Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.
Results in brief
Targeting cancer with multi-engineered selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs): Development of a biocompatible nanocomposite for targeted gene therapy in BRAF-mutated resistant melanoma.
Melanoma is one of the most aggressive forms of cancer responsible for the majority of skin cancer-related deaths. The Global Cancer Observatory reports that in 2022, over 150,000 new cases were reported in Europe, and the numbers continue to rise. When possible, surgery represents the first therapeutic option. Moreover, in the most severe cases, patients undergo adjuvant therapies to reduce the risk of metastasis and/or relapse. However, current treatments are not always effective, and patients with this type of melanoma often experience recurrence. The metastatic disease, indeed, is still responsible for 90% of deaths. It has been demonstrated that mutations in the BRAF gene are present in about 66% of these patients. Due to this, several targeted therapies have been developed to block the mutated BRAF protein, and some drugs are now in clinical use. Despite initial effectiveness, many patients eventually develop resistance to these treatments overtime. Thus, finding new strategies to overcome this resistance is a major focus of ongoing melanoma research. Nanotechnology has been proven a promising tool for several biomedical applications, including targeted cancer therapy. The SUNSET project aimed to develop a new nanoplatform based on multi-engineered selenium nanoparticles for gene targeting therapy of resistant melanoma. Here, selenium-based nanoparicles (SeNPs) were functionalized with a small interfering RNA against BRAF (siBRAF) and covered with hyaluronic acid (HA) to selectively enter melanoma cells. The nanosystem aimed to block the production of the BRAF protein by overcoming the resistance of BRAF mutated melanoma to the current treatments. To purpose this objectives green chemistry procedures were exclusively used in the preparation of these SeNPs.
Data: CORDIS, © European Union
Project objective
Nanotechnology has grown at an exponential rate in the last decade, finding a large application in the biomedical field. Nanoparticles are emerging as effective drug delivery tools, since they overcome most limitations of free therapeutics - while offering a series of physical/chemical advantages. Among engineered nanomaterials, selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) have shown a growing potential as a therapeutic platform since they offer both the properties of selenium (Se) and the ones of a nanoscale system. SUNSET project aims is to design and develop a hydrogel-based nanocomposite containing multi-functionalised SeNPs, to use as an effective nanoplatform for cancer gene therapy. The designed system will be evaluated in resistant melanoma, specifically BRAF mutated lesions, which represent 66% of the cancer cases and are those that show resistance to currently available therapies, causing most cancer deaths. Here, the synthesis of SeNPs is followed by surface functionalisation with a specific small interfering RNA (siRNA) and their embedding in the polymeric phase. All the materials will be synthesised through green chemistry routes, to guarantee a low environmental impact of the procedure and its scalability and reproducibility. The anticancer activity of the nanocomposite will be evaluated both in vitro and in vivo. Overall, the combination of RNAi technology, nanomedicine and biocompatible materials – selenium and natural hydrogels – will be useful to gain a more efficient therapy, overcoming the main current challenges in the care of resistant melanomas. Moreover, the simplicity of the fabrication and the possibility to scale up the procedure, make the proposed system possibly attractive for clinical applications, promoting European Scientific Excellence. Lastly, I will have the possibility to start new cross-disciplinary collaborations that will pave the way for my future research career.
Original text from CORDIS.
Participants
- ACADEMISCH ZIEKENHUIS GRONINGEN · GroningenCoordinatorNetherlands
Links
- View on CORDIS
- DOI: 10.3030/101103122
- https://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/documents/downloadPublic?documentIds=080166e50327a558&appId=PPGMS
- https://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/documents/downloadPublic?documentIds=080166e51df0f826&appId=PPGMS
Data: CORDIS, © European Union