Nanomedicine and Molecular Imaging
We focus on preparation and preclinical validation of new types of smart drug delivery systems, nanovaccines, targeted nanobiomaterials and imaging technologies. Another focus of our group is the clinical translation of smart nanobiomaterials/hydrogels for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. For these applications, we use state-of-art multimodality imaging technology, we find smart nanobiomaterials and imaging solutions to develop the next generation of clinical products to improve the quality of life of the patient.
We believe that smart nanobiomaterials should work better and we make it happen. Many drugs would be more effective and have fewer side effects if they simply last longer or go to the right place in the body. Our drug delivery technology meets these challenges using a new family of biocompatible polymers that will provide a new drug product for several clinical applications.
Many therapeutic compounds require localized advanced drug delivery technologies to increase efficacy, decrease toxicity, and potentially modify biodistribution. Localized drug delivery enables a therapeutic concentration of a drug to be administered to the desired target without exposing the entire body to a similar dose. Our group is developing a number of smart drug delivery systems to meet these objectives. Validation of these smart drug delivery systems will be performed in preclinical mouse models using state-of-art molecular imaging equipment and nanotechnology.
Research Projects
Research grants
Technology and Mission
Our group is committed to support other groups in implementing our nanotechnology platform in their research questions to broaden their product development. See below the general scheme.
We develop and support in all development the following steps:
- Design of product
- Preparation and optimization
- Screening in vitro
- Preclinical validation
- Technology transfer for GMP
- Phase clinical support
Our group is committed to support other groups in implementing our nanotechnology platform in their research questions to broaden their product development. See below the general scheme.
We develop and support in all development the following steps:
- Design of product
- Preparation and optimization
- Screening in vitro
- Preclinical validation
- Technology transfer for GMP
- Phase clinical support
Our group has developed a nanotechnology platform that enables the slow release and site-specific drug delivery. This technology can be used to produce new biomedical products, drug-delivery devices and device components that enable delivery of drugs directly to the affected organ or treatment site. The platform can expand the therapeutic use of compounds that otherwise would be too potent, do not remain in the body long enough to be effective, or have significant side effects when administered systemically. This flexibility allows us to work with a variety of drug candidates including small molecules, proteins, peptides or genes.
Our group is focusing on innovations in medical drug delivery system, nanovaccines, probes and nanoprobes for diagnostics and treatments. The ability to precisely deliver accurate and continuous doses of a drug will extend the therapeutic value of a wide variety of drugs, including those which would otherwise be ineffective, too unstable, and too potent or cause adverse side effects. Delivering the drug directly to the intended site of action can also improve efficacy while minimizing unwanted side effects elsewhere in the body, which often limits the long-term use of many drugs.
Our nanomedicine and nanotechnology platform can thus provide better therapy for chronic diseases to replace multiple injection therapy, improve drug efficacy, reduce side effects and to ensure dosing compliance.
In addition, our nanomedicine and nanotechnology platform will focus on innovative therapeutics based on our technologies and off-patent drugs (drugs whose patent has expired). Our basic strategy is to encapsulate off-patent drugs onto our nanoparticle platform to obtain FDA approval in an accelerated manner. This will allow for a superior product to reach those who need optimal drug delivery without inherent toxic effects. This will improve patients' quality of life by eliminating more repetitive treatments, reducing dependence on caregivers and allowing them to lead more independent lives.