Multifunctional Particulate Systems for Nanomedicine

The following NANOMAT project represents the Norwegian part of the MATERA project called NANOMEDPART. The aim of the MATERA project is to develop effective methods for the preparation of nanosized particles and nanosized capsules built of metallic, polyme ric, inorganic and composite materials applied for controlled drug delivery (anticancerous and antimicrobial applications) or as probes for molecular sensing. The surface of particulate materials will be appropriately modified for specific targeting. The MATERA project is divided into four tasks linked to the proposed capsules formation techniques. The NANOMAT project will greatly contribute to the elaboration of methodologies to obtain nanocapsules containing embedded physiologically active compounds for cancer therapy. The following objectives of the NANOMAT project: 1. Development of emulsion and membrane based methods for encapsulation of drugs. Nanosized capsules in the range 20 to 100 nm (as characterised by photocorrelation spectroscopy) will be prepared 2. Surface modification for targeted drug delivery in a model system with cancer stem cells 3. Demonstration of cellular uptake and drug release in model cell systems The most critical R&D challenges are to be able to demonstrate the efficiency of the therapeutic effects of drug-loaded nanoparticles in cancer treatment. Up to now, the efficiency has been relatively poor due to rapid clearance of the particles/capsules by phagocytosis post intravenous administration. Nanotechnology-based materia ls and knowledge-based multifunctional materials are emerging technologies, especially when one takes into consideration industrial scale production. The potential benefits to improving human health by application of the result of the research in the doma in of nanosized particles and capsules are extremely large, and the potential commercialisation will lead to economical benefit.