Advances in design and engineering of nanoscale delivery systems with distinct physical and biochemical properties are beginning to positively impact clinical medicine at many levels. These include detection of molecular changes responsible for disease pathogenesis and site-specific targeting of therapeutic agents with biochemically triggered-release mechanisms. Global research into targeting of drugs, biologics and diagnostic agents via intravenous and interstitial routes of administration with multifunctional nanoparticulate entities and nanoconstructs is accelerating dramatically. However, the biological performance of nanocarriers still requires optimization (in terms of targetability and content release in a therapeutically controlled manner) as well as reducing their toxicity (which are related to particle dose, size, shape, surface reactivity and inherent material properties) at and off target sites. Indeed, the underlying processes of toxicity are both complex and multifaceted, and in need of urgent detailed cell and molecular investigation. We address these issues at the Nanomedicine Research Group (NRG) and strongly believe on rational nanomaterial design and precision surface-engineering of particulate agents with well-defined polymers and biological ligands such as antibodies, nanobodies and peptides based on detailed understanding of integrated biological processes at molecular level, rather than forcing applications for some materials currently in vogue.

We exclusively focus on:

• Key aspects of polymeric nanoparticles and liposome nanoengineering, surface functionalization and characterization with state-of-the-art nanotechnology and bio-nanotechnology tools,
• Nanoparticle interaction with blood proteins and particularly surface opsonization events,
• Mechanistic aspects of nanoparticle-mediated complement activation and initiation of pseudoallergy, 
• Exploitation of organ-specific microcirculatory pathways (as in the spleen) and the concept of macrophage heterogeneity to target different sub-population of vascular macrophages with engineered nanoparticles and to differentiate between quiescent and activated phagocytes,
• Mapping inter-related physicochemical and physiopathological principles that control nanoparticles drainage from the connective tissue into dermal lymphatic capillaries and their subsequent targeting to different elements of the lymphatic system and lymph nodes,
• Mechanistic aspects of nanoparticles interaction with plasma membrane and monitoring of related dynamic events by FRET and TIRF for optimized targeting,
• Real-time nanoparticles tracking in cells, single cell studies and mapping of nanoparticle/nanoconstruct-mediated initiation of apoptotic events,
• Target of pathological molecules such beta amyloid with different multifunctional constructs (for its detection and elimination),
•  Development of ‘bench-mark’ protocols for molecular toxicity evaluation of clinical nanomedicines

NRG is a member of Center for Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology and Nanotoxicology (CPNN). Click here for further information. 

NRG features in the European Union’s 7th Framework Programme. Click here for further information

Research at NRG is mainly sponsored by the following parties: