Project: NANOPOROUS-MEMBRANES FOR INTRATHECAL (PSEUDO)DELIVERY OF DRUGS
| Acronym | INTREPIDUS (Reference Number: EURONANOMED2020-084) |
| Duration | 01/02/2021 - 01/02/2024 |
| Project Topic | Drug delivery to the CNS is limited by complex biological barriers generally termed the blood–brain barriers, including the vascular blood–brain barrier (BBB). Many drug delivery techniques are in development with the aim of facilitating BBB crossing, including direct injection of therapeutics into the cerebrospinal fluid (intrathecal delivery). Some therapeutics, such as enzymes, antibodies and aptamers (which are mostly intended to link molecular targets to be removed from the organism), do not really need to be delivered in the fluid or tissue to action; rather binding the molecular target regardless of the compartment. With this in mind, we have designed and patented a nanotechnology-based device able to put in touch therapeutics with molecular targets inside of the device without delivering therapeutics into the organism (pseudodelivery). The key component in the device is a smart design of customized nanoporous membranes that allow the influx of small molecules (targets) at the time of preventing the efflux of therapeutics of larger molecular size (nanosieve). Main advantages are that acting on the CSF directly is expected to be much more effective than delivering the drug peripherally while no side effects or immune responses are expected from drugs as they do not enter in contact with cells (immunoisolation). Partners have also made significant advances towards the nanotechnology and materials that will be key in the development of the device (experimental proof of concept, TRL 3). The project is composed of six work packages aimed at refining the design and the engineering of the device, manufacturing all components and assembling the device. Proof-of-concept will be made in multiple levels: in vitro, ex vivo (human CSF) and in vivo (transgenic AD mice) scaling up to TRL 5. Safety and nanotoxicity will be assessed. Strategies to reduce biofouling of nanoporous membranes will be an important additional objective. |
| Network | EuroNanoMed III |
| Call | Joint Transnational Call (2020) |
Project partner
| Number | Name | Role | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fundación para la Investigación y la Innovación Biosanitaria del Principado de Asturias | Coordinator | Spain |
| 2 | French National Centre for Scientific Research | Partner | France |
| 3 | Gheorghe Asachi Technical University of Iasi | Partner | Romania |
| 4 | University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Grigore T. Popa” | Partner | Romania |
| 5 | Warsaw University of Technology | Partner | Poland |
| 6 | NanoSanguis Ltd. | Partner | Poland |
| 7 | Egypt National Research Centre | Partner | Egypt |