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Description
A specific subgroup of breast cancer patients carry a fingerprint molecule named Her2New receptor which is used for many years as a target for specific anticancer therapy. Her2 antibodies effectively block tumour cells development and prevent tumour growth. While effective initially, cancer cells develop metabolic mechanisms to escape therapeutic inhibition and a very valuable therapeutic tool is as such lost. We identified two goals: to manipulate the cancer cells such as to become again responsive to the biological therapy targeting Her2New receptor; to augment distribution of intended drug such as to limit drug delivery to tumour tissue and limit systemic toxicity associated with non-targeted distribution. The team will produce and test polymeric chains that are capable to change their spatial configuration in relation with the pH of the medium. As such these chains will form a complex mycelia in neutral pH and will act like sponge absorbing the chemical compound needed to be delivered. We will use the specific behaviour of tumour tissue that will induce an acidic environment. .The new approach we develop will also be available for other types of tumours, as all of them share the acidic environment generated by rapid, uncontrolled multiplication of cancer cells.The group has also experience in the introduction of new drugs on the market and they will benefit from the cooperation with the Romanian partners by using a mechanism of feedback in production and in vitro studies that will allow rapid adjustments of nano-carriers structure.