Nanomedicine: basic concepts, pre-clinical development and clinical translation

Block 1 (Basic concepts and characterization techniques)

1. Self-assembled supramolecular nanostructures

• Synthesis and properties of amphiphilic polymers and molecules that can serve as the building blocks of nanoparticles.
• Self-assembled nanoparticles and supramolecular architecture. Why do molecular building blocks self-assemble in supramolecular nanostructures? How can this process be controlled at the level of the building block design and by the production methods? Gain knowledge and practical experience with formulation techniques, with a particular focus on microfluidics.
• Integration of therapeutic payloads, such as small molecule drugs, nucleic acids, peptides or proteins.
• Integration of diagnostic properties (optical, magnetic, radiolabels)

2. Characterization techniques

• Light scattering methods.
• Microscopy- based methods

Block 2 (Preclinical development and applications)

1. Designing the nanomedicine preclinical evaluation cycle

2. In vitro assays.

3. In vivo experiments (animal models, pharmacokinetics, biodistribution).

4. Integration of imaging techniques

• The importance of integrating imaging techniques in nanomedicine development.
• MRI, PET/CT, and optical techniques.

3. Therapeutic and diagnostic applications

• One example will be taught; the others are case studies.
• Cancer. cardiovascular diseases, immunotherapy, molecular imaging and precision imaging, RNA nanotherapeutics.

Block 3 (Clinical translation)
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1. Scaling challenges and GMP manufacturing & designing nanomedicine clinical trials.
2. Regulatory issues related to nanomedicines and intellectual property.
3. Commercialization and startup companies

The course covers the entire nanomedicine development cycle, starting with ‘Basic concepts and techniques’, advancing to ‘Preclinical development and applications’ and ultimately ‘Clinical translation’. As nanomedicine development involves various research fields, the course will be geared towards Biomedical Engineering, Medical Sciences and Technology as well as Chemistry students. Students are familiarized with fundamental concepts in self-assembly as well as nanomaterial design, manufacturing and characterization. Preclinical evaluation approaches and nanomedicine applications in different disease are introduced. Students are exposed to various learning methods including (guest) lectures, self-study and collaborative project-based learning. Grading is based on evaluation by exams and (poster) presentations.

After successfully completing this course, the student:

1.      Can design amphiphilic molecules and polymers.  
   

2.      Understands self-assembly and its importance in the generation of supramolecular nanomaterials.  
   

3.      Is able to analyse supramolecular nanomaterials’ physiochemical characteristics.  
   

4.      Understands the in vivo behavior of nanomedicine and its therapeutic applications.  
   

5.      Knows the role of important imaging modalities and labeling strategies for nanomedicine evaluation in (small) laboratory animals.  
   

6.      Can design (imaging-assisted) nanomedicine evaluation studies.  
   

7.      Understands scaling issues related to nanomedicine translation.  
   

8.      Knows important regulatory requirements and intellectual property strategies.  
   

9.      Has experienced developing a plan for a startup and pitching it to an expert panel.
   

You must meet the following requirements

• Completed Final examination Bsc program

• Lecture handouts, research/review articles, Copyright restrictions