- Acronym: SmartACT
- Project Code: PN-III-P1-1.1-TE-2021-1342
- Contract Number: 96TE
- Start: 15/05/2022
End: 14/05/2024 - Duration: 24 months
- Budget: 450.000,00 Lei
- Contracting Agency:: Executive Agency for Higher Education, Research, Development and Innovation Funding
- Coordinating Institution: : University POLITEHNICA of Bucharest – National Research Center for Micro and Nanomaterials
Address: Spl. Independentei 313, Sector 6, Bucharest, Romania
Phone: +4021.402.9465
Coordinator (CO) – UNIVERSITATEA POLITEHNICA DIN BUCURESTI – Project Manager – Conf. Univ. Ficai Denisa
Coordinator (CO) – UNIVERSITATEA POLITEHNICA DIN BUCURESTI – CS III Vasile Bogdan
Coordinator (CO) – UNIVERSITATEA POLITEHNICA DIN BUCURESTI – Lect. Univ. Neacsu Andreea-Ionela
Coordinator (CO) – UNIVERSITATEA POLITEHNICA DIN BUCURESTI – CS Angela Spoiala
Coordinator (CO) – UNIVERSITATEA POLITEHNICA DIN BUCURESTI – PhD Student Ludmila Motelica
Coordinator (CO) – UNIVERSITATEA POLITEHNICA DIN BUCURESTI – PhD Student Cornelia-Ioana Ilie
Coordinator (CO) – UNIVERSITATEA POLITEHNICA DIN BUCURESTI – PhD Student Alexandra Catalina Birca
The project scope is to improve medical strategies regarding cancer treatment, by the development of new nanostructured systems for targeted cancer therapy, based on natural catabolism products (dicarboxylic amino acids, hydroxyacids and keto acids as coating agents and natural or synthetic antitumor compounds, with induced cellular internalization. In order to achieve this main objective and minimize the negative side effects of current approaches, 4 specific objectives (SO) were taken into account, as follows:
SO 1. Fabrication and characterization of Fe3O4@ multifunctional compounds nanostructures, using dicarboxylic amino acids (e.g. glutamic acid, aspartic acid or their derivatives), hydroxyacids (e.g. tartaric acid, gluconic acid, vitamin C/ascorbic acid, folic acids) and keto acids (e.g. alpha-ketoglutaric acid), which, to the extent of our knowledge, were not yet reported as coating agents, representing a novelty in the field. The presence of these biological active agents, will allow an improved internalization because the tumoral cells are more active comparing to the normal cells and need to satisfy their higher need of food and oxygen. If required, these structures will be further stabilized to assure a better stability by PEG-ylation.
SO 2. Fabrication and characterization of Fe3O4@MC–Hydrophilic Cytostatic, as targeted cancer therapy systems. There are numerous hydrophilic antitumoral agents which can be used for cancer treatment. Their delivery usually occurs faster than the degradation of the matrix, the delivery mechanism being characteristic to a non-erodible matrix. The delivery can be easily triggered by an external alternative electromagnetic field.
SO 3. Fabrication and characterization of Fe3O4@MC – Hydrophobic Cytostatic, as targeted cancer therapy systems. At the expense of classical drugs used in cancer treatment, the project proposes fabrication of systems based on natural, non-toxic and commonly found in the diet, antitumor compounds, such as Bisabolol and Lycopene, which can be extracted from plants and vegetables. Their antitumor activity was demonstrated but only few reports were published so far. The hydrophobic cytostatics are especially important because their delivery is slow in aqueous media if no stimuli is applied.
The project addresses an experimental and demonstration research aimed at developing new nanostructured systems for targeted cancer therapy, based on natural catabolism products (dicarboxylic amino acids, hydroxyacids and keto acids as coatings and natural or synthetic antitumor compounds, with induced). cell internalization. For the implementation of the demonstration model, the project starts from a conceptual level which consists in designing new multifunctional compounds such as: Fe3O4@MC – Hydrophobic cytostatic, Fe3O4@MC – Hydrophilic cytostatic, using dicarboxylic amino acids (eg glutamic acid, aspartic acid or derivatives hydroxy acids (eg tartaric acid, gluconic acid, vitamin C/ ascorbic acid, folic acid) and keto acids, compounds that will allow improved internalization because tumor cells are more active compared to normal cells and must satisfy increased need for food and oxygen.
The results regarding magnetic nanostructures with improved internalization, elaborated within the boundaries of the project will be disseminated on national and international level through: scientific articles in ISI quoted journals (at least 4 papers in Q1/Q2 zone – cumulative impact factor >10), 2 participations at international scientific conferences and submission of a patent application at OSIM with possibility of extending to European Patent in several European Countries.
