The Nanotechnologies for advanced drug delivery research group is composed of Prof. Paolo Caliceti, Prof. Stefano Salmaso and a variable number of PhD (~2-4) and undergraduate students(~2-4).
The scientific activities of the research are focused on the development of novel nanosized supramolecular systems for drug delivery.
The formulations investigated by the research group are aimed at ameliorating the therapeutic performance of drugs with poor physicochemical, pharmacokinetic or biopharmaceutical properties. Typically the formulations are designed to enhance the in vivo behaviour and efficacy of biotech drugs, namely proteins (cytokines, hormones, enzymes etc.) or anticancer drugs.
Innovative supramolecular formulations are obtained by chemical or physical assembling of molecular functions with specific physicochemical and biological properties: inorganic nanoparticles, multifunctional polymers, pH or temperature stimuli sensitive materials, targeting agents, cell penetration enhancers. These systems are designed to provide for prolonged and site selective drug release that can be achieved by exploiting the peculiar environmental conditions of the disease site such as the high temperature, low pH and redox potential of the tumour tissue as well as the recognition of cell receptors.
Typical examples of nanosized drug delivery systems studied by the research group are:
- stimuli sensitive micelles which respond to micro-environmental conditions to activate the drug release.
- polymer bioconjugates obtained by attachment to polysaccharide backbones of drugs via cleavable bonds and targeting agents
- gold nanoparticles
- protein-polymer bioconjugates by PEGnology
- cyclodextrin conjugates for active drug targeting and delivery
Additionally, a research line is directed to investigate new processes for lipid and polymer nano-/micro-particle systems fro protein and low molecular weight drug delivery. Particulate formulations are produced either by spray-drying, classical emulsion/solvent evaporation but also by using supercritical fluid techniques.
The multidisciplinary research work includes simple bioconjugation techniques, extensive physiochemical characterization by spectrometric and chromatographic analysis, biopharmaceutical investigations, cell culture biological studies and in few cases pharmacokinetic trials.
The research activity is granted either by public or private institutions (EU, Italian and foreign programs) and few pharmaceutical companies.
The work is carried out in collaboration with outstanding international academic and industrial research groups working in the field of drug delivery.