Nanotechnology for cancer therapy: EU project leaded by Álvaro Somoza

by biofisica · Published 18/04/2016 · Updated 14/05/2016

Nanothecnology for cancer therapy: An industrial-leadership EU project coordinated by Alvaro Somoza

SBE member and scientist from IMDEA Nanoscience, Álvaro Somoza leads the recently awarded Industrial Leadership EU project (Horizon 2020) NoCanTher

The efficacy, safety and non-toxicity of this therapy have already been proven through in vitro studies.

The project, financed with more than € 7 million, aims at translating nanoformulations, previously developed at IMDEA Nanoscience, to early clinical development (phase I) for treatment of pancreatic cancer. The nanodrug consists on multi-functionalized magnetic nanoparticles, which are modified with a therapeutic agent and a targeting peptide. This allows both, intracellular drug delivery and the use of magnetic hyperthermia, as synergistic strategies to kill tumor cells.

NoCanTher will be financed 100% by the EU (program H2020-NMP-2015) and continues the efforts of a previous project (MULTIFUN) also scientifically coordinated at IMDEA Nanoscience. This time, it integrates a consortium of research centres, hospitals and enterprises from Spain, France, Germany, UK and Ireland. Among the rest of participants are the Spanisn National Cancer Research centre – CNIO and Vall d’Hebron Hospital (Spain), Trinity College Dublin (Ireland), Jena University Hospital (Germany), Paris Diderot University (France) and the enterprises Biopraxis (Spain), Immupharma (UK) and Chemicell (Germany).