Designed nanostructured bioactive surfaces for precision medicines - MediSURF

Project summary

The most versatile natural smart nanomaterials are proteins that underlay most biological functions. To this end, we propose to establish membrane-anchored polypeptide skeletons (MAPS) as a new type of a highly controlled nanoscale-bioactive surfaces with full control over functional density. We aim to rationally design those bioinspired materials from the bottom up using an interdisciplinary approach combining chemistry, biology and state-of-the-art imaging techniques, based on the expertise of this consortium. MAPS will be assembled on the surface of lipid bilayers of liposomes as well as on lipid bilayer coated mesoporous silica nanoparticles. The potential of MAPS for medical applications will be demonstrated on advanced cancer vaccines, combining targeted delivery and cellular internalization of tumour antigens, activators of immunity or anticancer drugs which will be tested in cell lines and in vivo. Effective and safe cancer vaccines are in major demand.