Research > Program Areas > Drug Development > BioNanoSciences – Drug Delivery and Immunotherapy

BioNanoSciences – Drug Delivery and Immunotherapy

Group Leader

Helena F. Florindo

PhD (2008) in Pharmaceutical Technology, Universidade de Lisboa,
Assistant Professor, Galenic Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa
 

The Research

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Our research is focused on the mechanisms of cellular dynamics, cross-talk and networks, including the characterization of specific cell membrane-material interactions, to identify new targets that will guide the engineering of translational nanotechnology-based systems for drug delivery, imaging and immunotherapy in specific clinically relevant situations (cancer, inflammation, genetic diseases). Novel formulation procedures are currently being adapted to microfluidic technics to support the continuous control of those methodologies aiming at translational nanomedicines. We are particularly interested on the identification of process parameters critical for targeted nanoparticle quality attributes, which control will be attained through the application of Process Analytical Technologies (PAT).

BioNanoSci group comprises complementary teams led by independent researchers that combine their research skills towards the development of controlled nanodelivery systems for immunomodulation, imaging and disease therapy.

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Ongoing Projects

Source: ERA-NET EuroNanoMed II (ENMed/0051/2016)
Title: MultiNano@MBM: Modulation of melanoma-stroma interactions using a rationally-designed nanomedicine combining BRAFi-, MEKi- and immune-therapies
PI: Helena F. Florindo
Period: 2017-2020

Source: COMPETE2020 and FCT (SAICTPAC/0019/2015)
Title: POINT4PAC – Precision Oncology by Innovative Therapies and Technologies
Local PI: Helena F. Florindo
Period: 2017-2019

Source: FCT PTDC/BBB-BQB/3710/2014
Title: Atyp-SLs: Biophysical and biological properties of atypical sphingolipids: implications to physiology and pathophysiology
PI: Liana C. Silva
Period: 2016-2019

Source Hovione FarmaCiencia SA
Title: Dissolution of Dry Powder Inhaler formulations: in vitro/in vivo correlations
PI: Maria L. Corvo
Period 2015-2019

Source: FCT
Title: Additive production of personalized medicines by tridimensional (3D) printing
PI: João F. Pinto
Period 2018-2021

 

Recent Most Relevant Publications

Zupančič E, Curato C, Kim‎ J-S, Yeini E, Porat Z, Viana AS, Globerson-Levin A, Waks T, Zelig E, Moreira JN, Satchi-Fainaro R, Eisenbach L, Jung S, Florindo HF. Nanoparticulate vaccine inhibits tumor growth via improved T cell recruitment into melanoma and huHER2 breast cancer. Nanomedicine 2018; 14: 835-847.

Paisana MC, Wahl MA, Pinto JF. An Insight Into the Impact of Polymers on the Hydrate Conversion of Olanzapine Form I in Aqueous Suspensions. J Pharm Sci 2017; 106: 1786-1794.

Carreira AC, Almeida RFM, Silva LC. Development of lysosome-mimicking vesicles to study the effect of abnormal accumulation of sphingosine on membrane properties. Sci Rep 2017; 7: 3949.

Marcelino P, Marinho HS, Campos MC, Neves AR, Real C, Fontes FS, Carvalho A, Feio G, Martins MBF, Corvo ML. Therapeutic activity of superoxide dismutase-containing enzymosomes on rat liver ischaemia-reperfusion injury followed by magnetic resonance microscopy. Eur J Pharm Sci 2017; 109:464-471.

Silva JM, Zupancic E, Vandermeulen G, Oliveira V, Salgado A, Videira M, Gaspar M, Graça L, Préat V*, Florindo HF. In vivo delivery of peptides and Toll-like receptor ligands by mannose-functionalized polymeric nanoparticles induces prophylactic and therapeutic anti-tumour immune responses in a melanoma model. J Control Release 2015; 198C: 91-103.

 

Group Members

Helena F. Florindo,
Group Leader

 

PhD Students

Master Students

  • Ana Pires
  • Inês Cachola
  • Jéssica Fernandes
  • Lara Igrejas
  • Maria Inês Barreiros
  • Mauro Duarte

Trainees

  • Ariana Colaço
  • Camilla Mulas
  • Elisa Doppiu
  • Nádia Caldara
  • Nádia Caldara