Partner 10: Nanovector srl, Torino, Italy

Scientist responsible: Prof. Maria Rosa Gasco

NANOVECTOR has been one of first company working in field of Nanomedicine in Italy, since 2001. Company has specific expertise in research and development on lipid colloidal carriers: proprietary technical platform is based on microemulsions prepared at room temperature and on Solid Lipid Nanoparticles (SLNs) obtained from warm microemulsions. Nanovector aims exploitation of proprietary lipid carriers technology for drug delivery in Pharmaceutics, Diagnostics and Special Foods.
Nanovector is now partner in 3 projects granted by EC and in 2 projects granted by local Government (Regione Piemonte): most of them are focused on Diagnostic application and to possible development to Theragnostic.
Pipeline, still at preclinical step, is focused on therapy in Ophthalmology and in CNS.

NAD Nanoparticles : Solid Lipid Nanoparticles (SLNs)

As by proprietary process, Solid Lipid Nanoparticles (SLNs) are produced from warm microemulsion, where a melted lipid constitutes the oil phase, and obtained nanodrops are used as reservoir of drug: by dispersion in cold water medium, the nanodrops of microemulsion solidify into SLNs.
SLNs have a spherical shape: average diameter depends on particular formulation, but can be generally reported in range from 40 to 150 nanometers, with narrow size distribution. Both Hydrophobic and hydrophilic drugs have been loaded into SLNs, by different technique.

SLNs can be prepared “Stealth” to avoid RES recognition, to prolong MRT and  to better reach brain district, by PEG-functionalization of their surface: in NAD project these characteristics constitute first base step Nanovector aim to develop in full cooperation with all other partners.
Main focus in NAD project will be on further nanoparticles’ surface functionalization: different approaches are planned in challenging research developement for targeting and for binding aBeta peptide, for enhancing BBB overcoming, for carrying contemporary contrast agents.

R&D – Bibliography

1. Zara G.P. et Al. -Intravenous administration to rabbits of non-stealth and stealth doxorubicin loaded solid lipid nanoparticlesat increasing concentrations of stealth agent: pharmacokineticsand distribution of doxorubicin in brain and in other tissues -J. Drug Targeting 10, 327-335 (2002)

2. Priano L.etAl. - TransdermalApomorphinepermeationfrommicroemulsions: a new treatment in Parkinson’s disease Movement Disorders, Vol.19, No. 8, 937-942, (2004)

3. Serpe L. et Al. - Intracellular accumulation and cytoxicity of doxorubicin with different pharmaceutical formulations in human cancer cell lines. -J. Nanosci. Nanotechnol. 6, 3062-9 (2006)

4. Priano L. et Al. - Transdermal treatment options for neurological disorders: impact on the elderly -Drug Aging 23(5), 357-75 (2006)

5. BrioschA. etAl. - Solidlipidnanoparticles: couldtheyhelp toimprovethe efficacyof pharmacologic treatments for brain tumors? - NeurolRes.; 29(3):324-30 (2007 Apr)

6. Brioschi A. Et Al. - Solid Lipid Nanoparticles Carrying Oligonucleotides Inhibit Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Expressionin RatGliomaModels-J. Nanoneurosci. 1, 65–74 (2009)

Link:

www.nanovector.it