Report del Congresso: “Therapeutic Nanoproducts from Biology to innovative Tecnhnology”

The congress (held in Roma, 19-20 giugno 2019) has deepened the mechanisms of interaction between new chemical-biological formulations and biophysical systems in order to improve the drugs transport into normal and tumor cells. Increasing the therapeutic efficiency of a nano-sized system requires the development of new skills within planning strategies leading to the expansion and sharing of knowledge in a multidisciplinary environmental. The objective of this event was to improve knowledge and discuss together the innovative methods of producing new nanomaterials as well as to investigate the regulatory aspects of these innovative materials.

Knowledge on essential questions such as characterisation of nanomaterials, their hazards, the assessment and management of risks is surely improved by the numerous efforts made in biomedical research and development. The protection of health and environment needs to be increased by also improving the current legislation.

The scientific program has been divided into three sessions, which include the topics below presented.

In the “Cell Interactions of Therapeutic Vesicles” session, the role of microvesicles, exosomes, liposomes and mesenchymal stromal freeze-dried vesicles in the interaction with normal and tumor cells was discussed and deepened. The aim was both to direct the drug towards the specific target is to overcome the phenomena of drug resistance. Eminent scientists have presented their relationships with the aim of expanding knowledge both through innovative methods of high specificity and resolution and through morpho-functional analysis.

Immunotoxicological rilevant aspects  for the evaluation and for the implementation of nano-specific regulatory guidelines were also discussed.

In the first part of the second session “Advanced Biomedical Technology” the aspects of nanostructured materials used in the construction of high biocompatibility medical devices as well as polymeric nanoparticles, mesoporous silica and mesenchymal cells for drug delivery systems in neoplasias were addressed. In the second part advanced biomedicine techniques were presented reports of 3D hydrogel systems to obtain a high precision analysis and quantitative evaluation of the results obtained.

In the third session “Nanosized Innovative Approaches” were introduced innovative materials such as nanosized cellulose, a material of natural origin obtained by an eco-friendly procedure and integrated microdevices for in vitro cell assays. Moreover, hybrid nanovectors derived from porous silica and innovative nanocarriers to tackle and treat neuromuscular diseases and metabolic diseases such as obesity are also treated. The demonstration of “3D nano in live” technologies through the combination of holographic and tomographic techniques have guaranteed the absence of photo toxicity and the real possibility of observing in high resolution the changes in the intracellular compartments induced by nanocarriers over time.

140 researchers and 25 eminent invited speakers partecipated in the Congress. Furthermore, the event was supported by an unrestricted grant from 11 pharmaceutical and high innovative technology companies; we had two patronages from the Italian Society of Histochemistry and the Italian Society of Microscopy.