The project aims to create a platform for next generation optimally personalised drug therapy: on-demand drug releasing implants triggered and controlled by blue/UV light. The technology is based on novel light generation pathways and a light-sensitive drug reservoirs.
PADRE is a rare ERC project as it is actually a joint-project between two universities: Faculty of Pharmacy at University of Helsinki and Supramolecular chemistry of bio- and nanomaterials team at Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences at Tampere University. It combines the expertise in drug delivery with in-depth understanding of photochemistry.
PADRE also have ties to two Academy of Finland Flagships: the Photonics Research and Innovation platform PREIN and GeneCellNano. The research environment is therefore unique and of the highest possible quality.
Background
A formidable physiological barrier for light-triggered drug release has been the inability to use high-energy blue/UV light as the triggering signal, making deeper targets within tissues accessible only to red light. However, red light, with its intrinsically lower energy, has limited value in photochemical reactions because e.g. the photocleavage of covalent bonds typically requires UV-light.
Goal
The major objective in PADRE is to circumvent the issue of unavailable blue light through local light generation.
PADRE will focus on creating a viable solution to employ blue excitation in precisely-tailored drug-releasing implants.
Funding source
Contact person in Tampere
Timo Laaksonen
Research Director
Timo Laaksonen