Nanotheranostic tool for imaging and treatment of epithelial cancers

We are developing a nanocontainer protein as a vectorization system for the targeted delivery of therapeutic molecules and as a diagnostic imaging tool. The molecular marker specifically detected by this protein is characteristic of epithelial cancers. In collaboration with Toulouse Oncopole surgeons, we have chosen to provide proof of concept of this nano-tool efficacy on human ovarian adenocarcinoma. We validated the biochemical characterization of this nanocontainer. Four chemotherapeutic drugs were successfully confined inside the protein cavity and successfully delivered to adenocarcinoma cells in vitro. The use of this nanocontainer, as an imaging probe, after its labelling with a near infrared dye (Alexa 647), has been explored in vivo on a mouse model. We highlighted the possibility to detect submillimeter peritoneal xenografts of human tumor.

These results lead us to create the start-up See2cure in January 2024. See2cure was co-funded by G. Ferron (IUCT, CMO), L. Paquereau (IPBS, CSO) and M. Coustets (CEO). In December 2024, the Oncopole Board of Directors voted to invest in the capital of See2cure. One of See2cure’s objectives is to conduct a phase 1 clinical trial at the IUCT within the next 2 years.

Investigators: Former PhD M Coustets, Engineer & technician: C. Ladurantie; Researcher: M. Golzio, Project leader: L. Paquereau

Needle-free transdermal delivery

There are various alternative routes (electrical, mechanical, thermal) for transdermal delivery to avoid the use of the injection syringe, which could improve the quality of life of patients with diseases such as diabetes. These methods include, for example, micro-needles, electro-permeabilization, and iontophoresis. Electropermeabilization allows, via the application of an electric field, to temporarily increase the permeability of the skin and consequently to allow the transdermal passage of molecules of high molecular weight.

The goal of this ARN-funded project CARBO2DERM is to design and realize a nanocomposite patch based on carbon nanotubes (CNT) to store, but also releasing a drug when it is subjected to electrostimulation. To do this, different polymers and different shaping techniques have been explored and developed to demonstrate the feasibility of our approach.

Investigators: Former PhD student J Simon, Engineers: E. Bellard and G. Alberola; Researcher: M-P Rols and J. Kolosnjaj-Tabi; Project leader: M. Golzio

Collaborations :  E Flahaut (CIRIMAT, Toulouse) ; Z Valdez (LAPLACE, Toulouse)

Optical imaging: multispectral, far-red fluorescent dyes, bioluminescence, intravital imaging and Speckle dynamic systems

Optical imaging of small animals allows observation of kinetic fluorescent events in time and space on the scale of a whole body, an organ or a cell. It enables detection and quantification to monitor gene expression, gene regulation, tumor growth and metastasis on a scale of days or weeks. We use and develop different approaches (multispectral imaging, fluorescent dyes emitting in the far red, bioluminescence).

The properties of the light can also be used. In collaboration with the ONERA, we develop a Tumor Microvasculoscope (TMV) based on Dynamic Polarised Speckle Acquisition (DYPSA). This process has been patented (Brevet 01/02/2017 n° FR 17 50833).

To overcome limitations induced by the skin, we also adopted the use of intravital microscopy with the implantation of a window chamber or dorsal skinfold chamber on the back of the mice. It allows the monitoring of fluorescent cell events in the skin or a cutaneous implanted tumor on several days in the same animal. Other window models exist that enable cells monitoring in deeper orthotopic tumors like abdominal window that we want to implement for in vivo electropermeabiliszation applications.