Jožef Stefan Institute
PI: Nina Kostevšek
Website: https://nano.ijs.si/field-of-research/nanomedicine-2/
EV-related research interests:
The group Nanomedicine is working on the development of biomimetic delivery systems based on erythrocyte membrane vesicles for innovative cancer treatment and diagnostics, focusing on the following areas:
• Contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging: we are developing new and safer formulations with vesicles based on superparamagnetic nanoparticles;
• Photo-thermal therapy: a portable NIR laser with adjustable power is used to irradiate suspensions, cells and animal models. We test many nanomaterials and molecules that exhibit a photo-thermal effect;
• Gene therapy: encapsulation of a variety of siRNAs into erythrocyte membrane vesicles
• Active targeting of cancer cells: we are developing peptides with high affinity for receptors that are overexpressed on cancer cells and are conjugated to vesicles
Key research methods / expertise:
erythrocyte membrane vesicles, drug loading, siRNA, photothermal experiments, magnetic charaterization
