Hybrid nanoparticles for biological applications
Il 17/01/2014 ore 14.30 - 15.30
Sala Conferenze, CNR Via P. Castellino, 111 80131 Napoli
Dr Jolanda Spadavecchia from CNRS, Paris (France), will give a seminar on biological applications of hybrid nanoparticles. Nanoparticles (NPs) are synthetic materials with considerable applications in biomedicine due to the unique way in which they interact with matter (Wagner, Dullaart et al. 2006, Kim, Rutka et al. 2010, Jokerst, Lobovkina et al. 2011). The control of hybrid nano-objects with tailored shapes and dimensions have attracted extensive researches because of their tremendous interest in numerous applications involving their optical properties, photo-thermal activity or ability for imaging. NPs can be used in diagnosis, as contrast agents in optical, photoacustic and MRI imaging, or in drug delivery, as carriers able to increase tumour exposure to therapeutic agents, improving treatment effects by prolonging circulation times, protecting carried drug from degradation and enhancing tumour uptake (Fernandez-Fernandez, Manchanda et al. 2011). TiO2 nanoparticles and Gold Nanoparticles can be applied in biomedical field like photodynamic and sonodynamic therapy for cancer (Yamaguchi, Kobayashi et al. 2011). Nevertheless, nanoparticles exhibit a potential toxicity to cells and organism, due to the small size and corresponding high specific surface area (Huang, Aronstam et al. 2010). One strategy to prevent TiO2 nanoparticles toxicity is to coat particles with poly-ethylene glycol (PEG). PEG is a hydrophilic, non-ionic polymer that has been shown to exhibit excellent biocompatibility. In both imaging and drug delivery the addition of PEG to NPs increases circulation time preventing the uptake by the reticuloendothelial system (Jacobson, Gonzalez-Gonzalez et al. 2010). For direct targeted therapy is necessary to incorporate, on the nanoparticle surface, a targeting moiety (e.g., antibodies, peptides) able to bind a tumour-associated antigen or receptor and facilitate the delivery of nanoparticles. Preclinical studies have shown that targeted nanoparticles have better antitumor activity compared with nontargeted nanoparticles(Kirpotin, Drummond et al. 2006, Gu, Zhang et al. 2008).
Dr Jolanda Spadavecchia obtained her degree in Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology from the University of Bari, Italy in 2000 following postgraduate studies at the University of Lecce on the synthesis of phthalocyanines from natural products. Since 2001 she was a Ph.D. student in Material Engineering in the Engineering Faculty of the University of Lecce (Italy). She worked at the Laboratoire Charles Fabry of the Optic Institute, in Orsay, France for 3 years (2006-2009). Her past research activity has mainly been devoted to surface plasmons resonance imaging systems and biomolecular surface interaction characterizations, for dynamical biochip applications. Since 2010 she is researcher for CNRS at Laboratory of Reactivity and Surface, (Université Pierre Marie Curie Paris VI. France).His research interests concern the synthesis of organic compounds, Gold Nanoparticles, sensor applications and characterisation, DNA-based sensors.Another research activity is devoted in the synthesis of TiO2 Nanocrystals and Gold Nanohybrid System for biomedical applications. She is co-author of about 47 publications and 50 conferences.
Organizzato da:
IBP, CNR
Referente organizzativo:
Anna Chiara De Luca
CNR - Istituto di biochimica delle proteine
via P. Castellino, 111 80131 Napoli
a.deluca@ibp.cnr.it
081/6132612
Modalità di accesso: ingresso libero