Empowering polysaccharide-based nanoformulations for cardiac RNA-based therapies
Place: conference room, IMDEA Nanociencia.
Abstract:
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain the leading cause of mortality globally. Nanotechnology has emerged as a transformative strategy for targeted drug delivery via rational design. Yet, challenges persist, such as ischemic myocardium and lesional plaques. To address these, polysaccharide- and metal-organic frameworks-based nanosystems can be used achieve precise drug delivery towards the conditioning of myocardial ischemic injury/atherosclerosis. Here, I will present our latest works on the abovementioned nanosystems demonstrated selective affinity towards lesional macrophages, driven by interactions with the Dectin-1 receptor. Functional heart evaluation using clinical-relevant murine models were conducted, demonstrating that these type of nanosystems can mitigate ischemia-reperfusion injury and inflammatory responses. Overall, we have demonstrated that different nanomedicines directed to specific cells and cell-receptors need to be carefully designed and optimized, promoting the development of precision medicine for CVDs, highlighting their clinical translational potential.
Short bio:
Prof. Santos (D.Sc. Tech., Chem. Eng.) is a Full Professor and Chair in Biomedical Engineering, and the Head of the Department of Biomaterials and Biomedical Technology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen. He is also Research Director at the University of Helsinki, Faculty of Pharmacy. Prof. Santos is also the co-founder of the startups Capsamedix Oy and Medixmicro Oy, and Coordinator of a large MSCA-ITN P4 FIT network in tendon repair (~ 4.1 m€). He holds Visiting Professorships at the Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine and University of Tartu, and he is also an Honorary Adjunct Fellow at the University of Technology Sydney. Prof. Santos research interests include the development of nanoparticles/nanomedicines and biomaterials for biomedical applications, particularly cancer and heart diseases. Currently, he supervises 19 PhD students and co-supervises 5 PhD students and 3 MSCA-postdoctoral fellowships. His lab makes the unique bridge between medical engineering, pharmaceutical nanotechnology, and tissue engineering by combining unique techniques to develop novel therapeutic formulations for translation into the clinic. He is co-author of more than 550 publications (+26000 citations; h-index = 94) and 6 patents. He has +250 invited talks around the world. He is also in Editorial board member of Advanced Healthcare Materials, Advanced Therapeutics, Chemical Society Reviews, Journal of Controlled Release, VIEW, Journal of Functional Materials, Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology and Materials, Frontiers in Biomaterials, Precision Nanomedicine, among many others. He is Associate Editor of Nano Select, Smart Materials in Medicine, and Drug Delivery and Translational Research, among others. Prof. Santos has received prestigious honours, awards and grants, such as the "Talent Prize in Science" in 2010 attributed by the Portuguese Government, the European Research Council Starting Grant in 2013, the European Research Council Proof-of-Concept Grant in 2018, the Young Researcher Award in 2013 attributed by the University of Helsinki, the Academy of Finland Award for Social Impact in 2016, and the Controlled Release Society Young Investigator Award 2021. Altogether, Prof. Santos has secured since 2009 +35 research grants nationally and internationally worth of +20 M€.
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