Keynote
POLYMER NANOCAPSULES: A DELIVERY STRATEGY FOR OVERCOMING DRUG BIOLOGICAL BARRIERS

The background knowledge in the nano-drug-delivery field and the commercialization of a number of nanopharmaceuticals is expected to lead to an increasing number of nanomedicines with the capacity to overcome biological barriers. In my presentation I will focus on the design and specific applications of a variety of delivery carriers, namely:

(ii) Transmucosal, nasal and oral peptide delivery. We have explored the possibility to transport peptide drugs, i.e. insulin, across the nasal and intestinal mucosa, as well as the access of antigens to immunocompetent cells. Within this frame we are working in the TRANS-INT Consortium (EU-FP7, Grant No. 281035- www.trans-int.eu), where we investigate the potential of nanotechnology for the oral administration of peptide drugs. In the area of vaccines, we are collaborating with a number of Canadian and US institutions in the development of a novel HIV vaccine (NIH, N. R01AI111805). This research is also supported by the NANO-PILOT consortium (EU HORIZON2020 Grant No. 646142-www.nanopilot.eu).

(ii) Multi-targeted delivery of oncological drugs. Our delivery approach involves reaching two levels of tissue targeting, i.e. the tumoral tissue and the lymphatics, in addition to a multiple level of cell targeting, namely cancer cells and tumor associated macrophages (TAMs). These delivery carriers, named as polymer nanocapsules, have the capacity to load different active molecules going from cytotoxic compounds, antibodies and immunomodulators. I will present the in vivo proof-of-principle of this technology, using docetaxel as a standard drug. This work is currently being supported by the NICHE Consortium (ERA-NET ENM-II – JTC20139) and the Worldwide Cancer Organization.

Overall, this work underlines the necessity to rationally design the drug delivery carriers in order to accomplish the requirements associated to specific therapeutic needs.