NANOparticles coated with OLIGOsaccharides for biomedical applications – NANOLIGO

The depolymerized derivatives of polysaccharides (PS) called oligosaccharides (OS) emerge as very promising bioactive coatings for multifunctional nanoparticles (NP), intended for targeted therapy in oncology. Contrary to their PS of origin, the OS have more defined structures and bioactivities, which enable a better control of the NP in vivo behaviour. The project offers to develop extremely small iron oxide NP (ESIONP) functionalized by OS of heparin, ?-carrageenan and ulvan as innovative nanoformulations for the management of invasive breast cancers. These OS bioactive coatings are prepared to reduce the properties unfavourable for the use of their PS parent, and to ensure optimal pharmacokinetics properties to the ESIONP (prolonged vascular lifetime and renal clearance) . In a “3 in 1” role, they are also able to interact with targets of the tumor microenvironment to improve NP retention and produce a therapeutic effect. This new generation of ESIONP will also include a diagnostic function for personalized medicine (MRI positive contrast/ nuclear imaging) to ensure the suitability of the treatment to each specific tumor biology.