The Universitat Jaume I is promoting an innovative nanotechnology project to improve therapies for cancer and infectious diseases

Cancer and antibiotic-resistant infections are two of the major challenges in global health today, requiring more precise and effective treatments to improve the lives of millions of people. To address this need, professors Juan Felipe Miravet Celades and Francisco Galindo Honrubia, from the Universitat Jaume I, are leading a research project that uses organic molecular nanoparticles to advance the treatment of these diseases.

As part of the 2021 State Plan for Scientific and Technical Research, this study aims to enhance the effectiveness of anti-cancer and anti-microbial therapies through an innovative approach. Specifically, the project focuses on developing nanocarriers that can transport bioactive substances to their target sites in a precise and controlled manner, improving treatment accuracy while reducing side effects. These nanocarriers leverage their small size and unique properties to enhance the solubility, stability, and bioavailability of the substances, facilitating more effective action within the body.

To date, the project has successfully developed self-assembled nanoparticles capable of loading and releasing anti-cancer drugs, such as paclitaxel and camptothecin, which are used to treat various types of tumours. Positive results have also been achieved in integrating photosensitizers like rose bengal, which, when activated by light, target cancer cells in photodynamic therapy. Regarding antibiotics, the project is currently in its final phase, exploring the incorporation of compounds like vancomycin and antifungals such as caspofungin, aimed at combating severe and resistant infections, under the supervision of researcher Rosa de Llanos Frutos.

The research team has also managed to create nanoparticles that are sensitive to the body's natural stimuli, such as changes in pH or the presence of glutathione, a compound present in certain cellular environments. This mechanism allows the bioactive substances to be released in a more controlled and precise manner, improving efficacy and reducing side effects.

Juan Felipe Miravet Celades, professor in the Department of Inorganic and Organic Chemistry at the Universitat Jaume I, is the coordinator of the research group ORGNANO-Organic Molecular Nanomaterials with Biomedical Applications, specialising in the design of organic nanomaterials for biomedical applications, especially in stimulus-sensitive molecular nanogels. The project is also led by Francisco Galindo Honrubia, professor and coordinator of the FYS-Photochemistry and Sensors group, which studies organic materials with biomedical applications, both diagnostic and therapeutic. His research focuses on the development of fluorescent sensors for diagnosis and the creation of photosensitising polymers capable of eliminating cancer cells and microbial agents through light absorption. In addition, the study has the participation of Rosa de Llanos Frutos, professor and coordinator of the MicroBIO-Microbiology of Opportunistic Pathogens and their Impact on Human Health group, dedicated to the study of the pathogenicity and diagnosis of opportunistic infections, as well as to the research of new antimicrobial compounds through in vitro and in vivo experimental models.

With this project, the Universitat Jaume I reaffirms its commitment to leading research, contributing to the development of innovative technologies that improve people's health and quality of life.

These results correspond to the R&D&I project PID2021-129033OB-I00, funded by the MICIU/AEI (reference 10.13039/501100011033) and ERDF/EU funds.