Αναζήτηση
ΚΛΕΙΣΙΜΟΑνάπτυξη Νανοφορέων για Χορήγηση Φαρμάκων
Δρ. Ευγενία Μήτσου
Nanomedicine, a field at the intersection of nanotechnology and medicine, offers new possibilities for disease prevention, monitoring, and intervention by engineering materials at the nanoscale. Our group’s research is directed towards the design and development of advanced nanocarriers, including liposomes, lipid nanoparticles, micro- and nanoemulsions among others, for targeted drug delivery, innovative therapy and precision in diagnosis. By careful design (e.g. components, size, surface charge, surface functionalization) along with the encapsulation of a broad range of molecules, from lipophilic and hydrophilic drugs to bioactive compounds, proteins, and nucleic acids, we aim to improve treatment outcomes by overcoming challenging biological barriers. Through engineering of nanomaterials along with extensive physicochemical characterization and detailed studies of biological interactions, we seek to enhance stability, precision, and therapeutic efficacy. Our group is involved in every stage of nanocarrier development, from initial design and formulation to structural characterization and biological evaluation, both in vitro and in vivo. This approach will allow us to generate conclusive data and rapidly adapt, or re-design systems as needed to meet specific therapeutic goals for various delivery routes and health challenges.
Research Activities
Nanocarriers often have complicated structures, making their physicochemical characterization fundamental even though sometimes overlooked. As their structure is closely related to their biological function, we employ a range of sophisticated characterization techniques, including Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, Small-Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS) and Cryo-Transmission Electron Microscopy (cryo-TEM) among others. By integrating these structural insights with in vitro (i.e. cellular uptake, epithelial transport, cytotoxicity etc.) and in vivo studies (i.e. safety assessment, biodistribution, immune response) we can refine nanosystem design to achieve extended stability, increased cargo loading and favorable release kinetics, while ensuring translation to effective and safe treatments. This work contributes to building a versatile library of nanosystems, enabling a more targeted and need-driven approach for various applications.
Nature will serve as our inspiration for designing nanoparticles. We aim to engineer nanoparticles that mimic membranes from bacteria, mammalian cells, extracellular vesicles and other biological structures. Natural biomaterials will be also incorporated in the nanosystems while hybrid systems will be strongly exploited. These bio-inspired and hybrid systems will achieve multifunctionality and enhanced drug and gene delivery performance. We aim to improve biocompatibility, reduce immunogenicity, target specificity, and the controlled release of therapeutics in response to physiological cues.
We design multifunctional nanocarriers capable of simultaneously diagnose and deliver drugs. This dual capability allows real-time monitoring while minimizing repeated administration and systemic exposure. Our focus lies mainly on oxidative stress-related diseases, with biocompatible, stimuli-responsive, theranostic nanosystems. Nose-to-brain delivery, intravenous and intra-articular administration are among the administration routes under investigation. By combining imaging agents, therapeutic molecules, and responsive materials, of low toxicity/immunogenicity we aim to create versatile nanosystems that improve disease diagnosis, treatment efficacy, and patient outcomes.
Supervision of students
2024: Mentor for the Kupcinet-Getz International Summer Program at the Weizmann Institute of Science, Supervision of Ms. Abigail Aradi-Posylkin from University of St Andrews Project: Structural study of mRNA-lipid nanoparticles with the use of Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM)
2022-2024: Training for Technical Personnel at the Weizmann Institute of Science, Supervision of Ms. Sapir Lan (Ben Gurion University)
2017-2021 Training and Supervision of Ph.D. Candidates and Graduate students in Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) Spectroscopy and Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) techniques, as well as conducting in vitro experiments.
Academia
- Weizmann Institute of Science, Department of Materials Science, Israel
- University of Tel Aviv, Department of Cell Research and Immunology, Israel
- Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, Israel
- Institute of Chemistry and Biology of Membranes and Nanoobjects, Colloids and Lipids for Industry and Nutrition, Bordeaux INP, Pessac, France
- Università di Parma, Food and Drug Department, Parma, Italy
- Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, Laboratório de Nanotecnologia Aplicada à Saúde, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil
- University of Copenhagen, Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Denmark
- Graz University of Technology, Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, Austria
- Centre de Recherche Paul Pascal (CRPP) UMR 5031 CNRS, University of Bordeaux, France
- University of Belgrade, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Cosmetology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Serbia
- University of Nicosia, Department of Chemistry, Cyprus
- École Supérieure des Industries Alimentaires de Tunis, Tunis, Tunisia
- National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece
- University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
Industry
- Cleanway S.A.,
- Jotis S.A.
- VIORYL S.A.
- PHARMAXEL E.E.
- HELP Pharmaceuticals S.A.
Actively contributing to the preparation of proposals for competitive funding programs in international and national level, including programs under Marie Skłodowska-Curie Action, PRIMA (Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area) and the Operational Programme Competitiveness 2021-2027.
2022-2025: Azrieli Foundation
International Postdoctoral Fellowship
Duration: 3 years, Funding: ~156.000 EUR
Project Title: «Liposome-Hydrogel hybrids for highly lubricated surfaces for aqueous and biological environments.»