Restore fingerprint molecule dependent sensibility using inhibitors packed in pH dependent nanostructures

About this project

<p style="text-align: justify">A specific subgroup of breast cancer patients carry a fingerprint molecule named Her2New receptor which is used for many years as a target for specific anticancer therapy. Her2 antibodies effectively block tumour cells development and prevent tumour growth. While effective initially, cancer cells develop metabolic mechanisms to escape therapeutic inhibition and a very valuable therapeutic tool is as such lost. We identified two goals: to manipulate the cancer cells such as to become again responsive to the biological therapy targeting Her2New &nbsp;receptor; to augment distribution of intended drug such as to limit drug delivery to tumour tissue and limit systemic toxicity associated with non-targeted distribution. The team will produce and test polymeric chains that are capable to change their spatial configuration in relation with the pH of the medium. As such these chains will form a complex mycelia in neutral pH and will act like sponge absorbing the chemical compound needed to be delivered. We will use the specific behaviour of tumour tissue that will induce an acidic environment. .The new approach we develop will also be available for other types of tumours, as all of them share the acidic environment generated by rapid, uncontrolled multiplication of cancer cells.The group has also experience in the introduction of new drugs on the market and they will benefit from the cooperation with the Romanian partners by using a mechanism of feedback in production and in vitro studies that will allow rapid adjustments of nano-carriers structure.&nbsp;</p>

Bilateral cooperation results

Working in partnership is a complex and challenging activity requiring new skills for adapting new and controversial ideas and being able to negotiate and compromise in the group. Numerous meetings and brainstorming sessions made us better in recognizing how to make a step forward and to be able to identify a good solution and a dead end in research. We wrote together 3 more application for research and better understood how to divide work between partners and join together in assessing results. This project made us able to better estimate each partner's strong points and how to mix these qualities together in a major project. We were exposed to criticism from our partners and by doing it we were all able to better evaluate our work and discuss steps in developing new experiments and analyse the results.

Project partners

• University of Oslo Donor project partner· Norway
• "Petru Poni" Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry Project partner· Romania