SaveMe project will address current urgent needs for pancreatic cancer diagnosis and treatment by exploiting partners' expertise and most recent research achievements for the design and development of novel modular nano-systems platform integrating new functionalized nano-core particles and active agents. The modular platform will enable the design of diverse active nano-systems per diagnostic or therapeutic application as defined by their active agent compositions. For diagnostics, superior tracers will be developed for molecular MR/PET and gamma camera imaging, enabling efficient diagnosis and guided surgery respectively.
Novel functionalized nano-core systems will be conjugated with semi-confluent active shell layer. Three types of shell layers will be design:
(1) novel iron oxide nano-particles as advanced MRI contrast agents and/or
(2) DOTA complexes for MRI (with Gd3+), or PET (with Ga-68), or gamma camera (with Ga-69);
(3) Integrating within one tracer both iron oxide nano-particles and DOTA-Ga-68 complexes for a sequential or simultaneous MR/PET imaging. For therapeutics, active nano-systems will be developed to deliver (1) therapeutic siRNAs or (2) anti-MP-inhibitory-scFVs.
These non-classic anti-tumor drugs will be designed based on an extensive tumor degradome analysis for combining blockage of selective matrix MPs, thus preventing basic invasive and metastasis steps, with siRNA based neutralization of secondary molecular effects induced by the specific protease inhibition. Individualized degradome analysis will be developed for potential profiling of anti-MP and siRNAs based therapy per patient. To facilitate the above diagnostics and therapeutic effects, advanced tumour targeting and penetration active agents will be linked to nano-core functionalized groups, including a biocompatible PEG layer linked to tumor selective MMP substrate molecules and highly safe and potent novel somatostatin analogue peptides targeting SSTR over-expression.
Coordinator
Tel Aviv University (Israel)
Other participants
ALMA MATER STUDIORUM-UNIVERSITA DI BOLOGNA
- Dip. di Chimica Industriale "Toso Montanari"
- Resp. Scientifico: Dott. Mauro Comes Franchini
University Of East Anglia (UK)
Asociacion Centro De Investigacion Cooperativa En Biomateriales-CIC biomaGUNE (Spain)
Johann Wolfgang Goethe Universitaet Frankfurt Am Main (Germany)
Shemyakin And Ovchinnikov Institute Of Bioorganic Chemistry - Russian Academy Of Science (Russia)
Klinikum Rechts Der Isar Der Technischen Universitat Munchen (Germany)
Bar Ilan University (Israel)
Fundacion Cidetec (Spain)
Medical Research Infrastructure Development And Health Services Fund By The Sheba Medical Center (Israel)
Osm-Dan Ltd. (Israel)
Filarete Servizi Srl (Italy)
Weizmann Institute Of Science (Israel)
Verein Zur Foerderung Der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung Am Wilhelminenspital Der Stadt Wien (Austria)
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (Belgium)
Gems Pet Systems Ab (Sweden)
Colorobbia Italia Spa (Italy)
Nhance Technologies Limited (UK)
Universitaetsklinikum Heidelberg (Germany)
Research And Production Complex Nanosystem Llc (Russia)
Bencar AB (Sweden)
Start date 01/03/2011
End date 28/02/2015
Duration 48 months
Project Reference 263307
Project cost 14.046.854,40 EURO
Project Funding 10,500,000 EURO
Area FP7-COOPERATION-NMP
Subprogramme Area NMP.2010.4.0-1: Development of nanotechnology-based systems for detection, diagnosis and therapy for cancer
Contract type Collaborative project