Innovative microfluidic processes for the production of cationic liposomes and chitosan nanoparticles useful in vaccination and gene therapy

• Grant number: 12/05015-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research
• Start date: June 30, 2012
• End date: August 04, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Chemical Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Lucimara Gaziola de la Torre
• Grantee: Lucimara Gaziola de la Torre
• Host Investigator: Wyatt Neil Vreeland
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia Química (FEQ). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), United States

Abstract

This request for overseas research scholarship aims to consolidate the beginning of two projects of international collaboration between the Nano&Biotechnology Laboratory/School of Chemical Engineering/UNICAMP and the Multiplexed Biomolecular Science Group/Biochemical Science Division/National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), U.S. This collaboration is in the context of nanotechnology, to develop innovative technologies for the production of nanoparticles of chitosan and cationic liposomes via microfluidic processes for DNA incorporation, aiming at applications in gene therapy and vaccination. The success of gene therapy and vaccination depends, among other factors, on the development of cationic nanoparticles with controllable size and polidispersity, which are able to incorporate DNA or RNA and to release the genetic material inside the cells. Microfluidics emerges as a promising technology to develop new processes for nanoparticle's production with controllable size and polydispersity. This multidisciplinary science studies the fluids in small volumes and by controlling the hydrodynamic conditions it is possible to control molecules in space and time. NIST is an American Institute of technological development and presents significant research in microfluidics applied to life sciences and in particular for the production of liposomes. A mission of 30 days at NIST will allow the training in the field of microfluidics (construction and operation of these devices), start up of projects related to the production of chitosan nanoparticles and cationic liposomes for DNA incorporation. This mission will allow international collaboration on projects that graduate students from LaNBDA are involved, contributing to the development of innovative processes and application in the nanobiotechnology field. (AU)