Projects
A novel CRISPR/Cas9-based nanomedicine strategy targeting CD4+ cells to cure HIV Ghent University
Nearly 38 million people globally are living with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS by replicating in CD4+ immune cells. Current therapies can inhibit the virus from multiplying, but cannot eliminate viral DNA copies integrated in the genome of CD4+ long-living cells (viral reservoir). As such, HIV treatment requires HIV patients' lifelong commitment to drug adherence, which causes serious side effects, stigma, and a vast cost impact on ...
A novel CRISPR/Cas9-based nanomedicine strategy targeting CD4+ cells to cure HIV Ghent University
In this proposal, we aim to design lipid nanoparticles coated with anti-CD4 nanobodies that encode CRISPR/Cas9 ribonucleoproteins targeting both ends of the HIV genome and the viral coreceptor CCR5. As such, our novel nanomedicine will selectively purge HIV reservoirs in CD4+ cells, while conferring healthy CD4+ cells resistant to HIV reinfection, and off-target effects in non-target cells will remain minimal.
Nanomedicine for generic use: an anticancer – antifungal – antibacterial formulation KU Leuven
The use of nanomaterials in biomedical applications is vastly increasing, where the main focus lies on the use of various types of nanomaterials for cancer therapy. Recently, our group has demonstrated that specifically designed inorganic (doped) nanoparticles could be efficiently used to generate cancer-specific toxicity. In the present project, we aim to explore these and newly developed nanoparticles for their use in cancer therapy and ...
A pre-targeted nanomedicine strategy for in vivo CD8+ T cell engineering. Ghent University
The goal of this project is to investigate a strategy to pre-target CD8+ T cells in vivo with a chemical moiety that allows for subsequent cellspecific delivery of nanoparticle-formulated therapeutics, functionalized with a complimentary reactive moiety on their surface using ultrafast covalent click chemistry. Via this technology, we aim to modulate T cells in vivo in the blood and in the tumor microenvironment.
A targeted nanomedicine strategy for in vivo CD8+ T cell engineering Ghent University
The goal of this project is to investigate a strategy to target CD8+ T cells in vivo for subsequent cellspecific
delivery of nanoparticle-formulated therapeutics. Via this technology, we aim to modulate T cells in vivo in the blood and in the tumor microenvironment.
Nanomedicine: an integrative approach Ghent University
Nanomedicine (NM) is regarded as one of the most promising applications of nanotechnology, as it would allow the development of tailored therapies, with a high level of selectivity and efficacy. Altough much research has been performed over the past decades, translation from academia to commercial application remains disappointingly low. Reasons that explain the current moderate success of NM are: (1) promising preclinical results are often ...
Evaluating the potential of nanomaterials for IP administration of chemotherapeutics and nucleic acids / Nanomedicine: an integrative approach Ghent University
Using a step by step approach, we aim to compare injection and nebulization of chemotherapeutics and nanoparticles , by using an in-house developed model to test PIPAC in rats at clinically relevant conditions. In the first 3 years of the project, we focused on developing the nanoparticle formulation of cisplatin and the effect of nebulization on the stability of nucleic-acid containing nanoparticles. In the last year of the project, we will ...
Development of advanded fluorescence microscopy methods for studying the structure, the transport and stability of nanomedicines for gene therapy of the retinal pigment epithelium. Ghent University
Several types of nanomecicines are evaluated for deliviry nucleic acids to retinal pigment epithilium (RPE) cells. However, more information is nedded on their stability and transport in biological media like the vitreous gel, retina and inside the RPE dells. In this project we will develop and apply several advanced fluorescence microscopy methods to increase our understanding of their physico chemical properties.