Nanoparticles in Medicine
RESEARCH TO BUSINESS live
November 08, 2 - 4 p.m., online
Synthetic nanoparticles as carrier system offer significant opportunities in medicine by acting as vehicles to transport drugs through biological barriers. Both in diagnostics and in therapy, as future-oriented technology platforms, they open up new possibilities for the targeted and efficient treatment of cancer and cardiovascular diseases in particular. New treatment methods based on nanoparticles are conceivable, but their risks are yet to be fully evaluated. KIT scientific findings contribute to assessing the influence of the particles on living organisms. The digital event will feature expert presentations on two main topics, followed by lively discussions.
Nanoparticles for drug delivery
The research groups of Prof. Claus Feldmann (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology) and Prof. Frauke Alves (University Hospital Göttingen) start with the topic "nanoparticles for drug delivery". In a collaboration, they have studied the delivery of glucocorticoids against inflammation using fluorescent hybrid nanoparticles (patented). The zirconium-based technology is synthesizable in water and has a very high drug loading of 70-85% per nanoparticle.
Biocompatibility of nanomaterials
Researchers Dr. Carsten Weiss and Sonja Mülhopt (both Karlsruhe Institute of Technology) will then introduce the topic of "biocompatibility of nanomaterials" in medicine based on their research. Although the benefits of nanoparticles are obvious, there is concern in society that the same properties that enable a variety of applications might also have adverse effects on the human body. This expert presentation will provide insight into research on the interaction of synthetic nanoparticles or nanostructured surfaces with living systems.
Agenda
- 2:00 - 2:05 Welcome
- 2:05 - 2:15 Introduction
- 2:15 - 2:35 Topic 1: Nanoparticles for drug delivery | Prof. Claus Feldmann (KIT), Prof. Frauke Alves (University Göttingen)
- 2:35 - 2:50 Discussion on topic 1
- 2:50 - 3:05 Break (time for networking)
- 3:05 - 3:25 Topic 2: Biocompatibility of nanomaterials | Dr. Carsten Weiss (KIT), Sonja Mülhopt (KIT)
- 3:25 - 3:50 Panel talk: "Does the future of medication lie in nanovehicles?" with industry guests:
Dr. Roland Böttger (CureVac) and Dr. Danilo Maddalo (Genentech) - 3:50 - 4:00 Closing and open networking
Registration
Please register via our online registration form by 02 November 2022. Participation in the online event is free of charge.
Platform: online by wonder.me (browser-based, no software needed)
Prof. Dr. Claus Feldmann | KIT, Institute of Inorganic Chemistry
Claus Feldmann joined the KIT Chair of Inorganic Chemistry in 2003 after 7 years in industry (Philips Research Laboratories). His research group is interested in novel synthesis strategies, novel compounds and nanomaterials, as well as the respective material properties. Aiming at material properties, we address structure, morphology, shape, luminescence, photo/catalysis, imaging and drug delivery. The research activities range from fundamental science to industry transfers, and specifically include novel nanomaterial concepts for biomedical application with long-standing collaborations.
Key activities:
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Hollow nanospheres
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Base metal nanoparticles
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Inorganic-organic hybrid nanoparticles
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Drug delivery and imaging
Prof. Dr. med. Frauke Alves | University Medical Center Göttingen (UMG), Research Group Translational Molecular Imaging
Frauke Alves is a professor at the University of Göttingen since 2009. Her research focuses on the use of X-ray based / optical and non-invasive imaging in combination with antibody and nanoparticle based tubes to establish therapeutic and diagnostic concepts in tumor and lung diseases with the aim to bring them into clinical application. In 2019, Prof. Alves was elected Vice President of the European Society for Molecular Imaging (ESMI). She holds this position since 2020.
Key activities:
- Non-invasive and high-resolution imaging techniques
- Optical imaging for visualization of biological processes in vivo or ex vivo
- Nanoparticle-based therapeutic strategies
- Translation of preclinical results into clinical application
Dr. PD Carsten Weiss | KIT, Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems
Carsten Weiss has been a group leader at KIT since 2005. His work focuses on the molecular investigation of the mechanisms of action for a wide variety of toxic substances, such as DNA-damaging agents and nanomaterials. The primary interest and expertise of the Weiss group lies in the area of molecular toxicology, i.e. the interaction of genotoxins and nanomaterials with living systems and the analysis of adverse effects. In the last years, different nanomaterials and groups of chemicals (PAHs, dioxins, mycotoxins, metals, cytostatic drugs etc.) were studied in different cell culture systems, zebrafish and mice. A special emphasis is on the mechanisms of toxicity relevant for cytotoxicity and inflammation.
Key activities:
- Toxicology of Nanoparticles
- Nano bio interfaces
- Molecular investigation of mechanisms of action
Dipl.-Ing. Sonja Mülhopt | KIT, Institute of Technical Chemistry
Since 2000, Sonja Mülhopt has been working at the Institute for Technical Chemistry (ITC) of KIT, focusing on the development of the exposure of bioassays at the air-liquid interface to aerosols from technical processes. As Head of the research group, she uses her developments and knowhow for collaboration projects in Germany and Europe, some of which have been completed. She currently participates in the NanoCare 4.0 program of Germany’s Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), investigating thermally treated carbon fibers as part of the CFC-CarbonFibreCycle project.
Key activities:
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Development of Karlsruhe Exposure System for the deposition of inhalable particles and fibres on cell cultures
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Exposures of bioassays to aerosols at the gas-liquid interface
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Development of dosimetry methods for the determination of particle doses on cell cultures
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Aerosol measurement techniques: mobility spectrometry, optical particle counting, gravimetry, picture analysis of microscopic images
Dr. Roland Böttger | Scientist Product Design & Formulation, CureVac
Roland Böttger studied chemistry and received his doctorate at Leipzig University (Germany) focusing on the controlled delivery of antidiabetic peptides. He pursued a postdoc at the University of British Columbia (Vancouver, Canada), where he worked on peptides for safer pain therapy and co-developed several lipid-based nanomedicines for targeted drug delivery. During this time, he completed an internship with Precision Nanosystems focused on the development of hepatocyte-targeting niosomes. In 2020, he joined CureVac (Tübingen, Germany), where he is investigating strategies for stabilization of mRNA and its delivery to various targets.
Dr. Danilo Maddalo | Senior Scientist and Group Leader, Genentech
Danilo Maddalo obtained his PhD at the KIT and shortly after started his own lab as Young Investigator Group leader in the same institution. He then moved to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (New York, USA) to specialize in genome editing and after a few years opened a lab at Novartis (Basel, Switzerland). Dr. Maddalo is currently a Group Leader at Genentech (San Francisco, California, USA) where he leads a team of scientist focusing on drug development and translational oncology.
