Period (from – till): Quartile 4, Time slot A (Mo 1-4, We 9-10, Th 5-8), 22 April - 7 July 2024

Lecturer(s):
responsible lecturer: dr. R van der Meel
lecturer: prof.dr.ir. L. Brunsveld
lecturer: prof.dr.ir. J.C.M. van Hest
co-lecturer: prof.dr. W.J.M. Mulder


Description of content
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.

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
•    Dynamic light scattering.
•    Electron microscopy, including cryoTEM 

Block 2 (Preclinical development and applications)

1. Designing the nanomedicine preclinical evaluation cycle
•    In vitro assays.
•    In vivo experiments (animal models, pharmacokinetics, biodistribution).

2. Integration of imaging techniques
•    The importance of integrating imaging techniques in nanomedicine development.
•    MRI.
•    PET/CT.
•    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.

Block 3 (Clinical translation)

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


Literature/study material used:
Lecture handouts, research/review articles, Copyright restrictions.

Registration:
Please register at the TU/e, course code: 8SM40 at least 4 weeks before the start of the course. Osiris registration will be done retroactively when results from the TU/e are received.
 
Mandatory for students in own Master’s programme:
No
 
Optional for students in other GSLS Master’s programme:
No, for RMTM students only.
 
Prerequisite knowledge:
For this course no specific prior knowledge is required