Conférencier
Carla Vitorino (Coimbra, Portugal)
Event type
Start Date
Description
Solid Lipid-Based Nanoparticles in Drug Delivery: From Foundational Insights to Brain-Targeting Strategies
Since their introduction in 1991, solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) have marked a paradigm shift in drug delivery by providing nanoscale carriers (40–1000 nm) composed of biocompatible and biodegradable lipids. Their evolution into nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) addressed earlier limitations such as drug loading and stability, offering a versatile platform for improved therapeutic outcomes. With excellent tolerability, stability, and potential for targeted delivery, lipid nanoparticles remain at the forefront of modern pharmaceutical technology.
Our research leverages these nanosystems across multiple administration routes - dermal, transdermal, oral, and intravenous - to overcome biological barriers and optimize targeted drug delivery. Special emphasis is placed on innovative modifications, including peptide conjugation, inorganic decoration (gold, iron), and biomimetic coatings, which enhance therapeutic precision.
A key area of exploration is the application of ultra-small NLCs for drug targeting to the brain, particularly in glioblastoma (GB), a grade IV glioma with limited therapeutic success. By combining drug repurposing strategies with advanced nanocarrier engineering, including hyaluronic acid–peptide conjugates and multifunctional inorganic hybrids, we aim to address challenges posed by the blood–brain barrier, tumor heterogeneity, and multidrug resistance. Preclinical evaluations, ranging from physicochemical characterization to biodistribution and antitumor activity in mouse models, highlight the promise of these lipid-based nanoplatforms as enablers of innovative, more effective therapeutic approaches.
Place
Amphi 7 (5e rouge)