Project code: PN-III-P1-1.1-PD-2019-0271; Contract number: PD149/2020

Acronym: GlyPepTum

Funding programme: Human Resources; Subprogram: Postdoctoral research projects;

Contract Authority: Executive Agency for Higher Education, Research, Development and Innovation Funding

Project duration: 2020 – 2022

Project description: This project proposes to remedy the limitations of the common drug therapy for melanoma by designing a new type of micro/nanomotor constructed via the supramolecular assembly of new glycopeptides and enzyme-conjugated magnetic nanoparticles. They will have a stomatocyte shape (concave resembling with blood erythrocytes) that will allow the loading hydrophobic and hydrophilic anti-cancer drugs for enhanced anti-tumoral activity. By combining both engines on the same carrier, self-propelled particles using two different fuels will be obtained. These multiple-fueled biocompatible swimmers with molecular targeting functionality (given by the polypeptide blocks) will have a significant contribution to make them applicable in a biomedical context emerging as systems with higher complexity, superior output control, and multifunctionality.