JPIAMR 14th Call Partner Search Tool

General Information

• Type: Partner looking for project
• Organisation: BioScope Labs - Faculty of Physical Chemistry - University of Belgrade
• Country: Serbia (RS)

Research area

• Scientific area(s) of the call:
  1. Improvement of drug/plant protection agent efficacy and/or specificity through chemical modifications (including hit to lead optimisation)
  2. Drug/plant protection agent repurposing
  3. Optimisation of drug/plant protection agent combinations, alone or with adjunct therapies (including therapeutic vaccines)
  4. Design and implementation of new strategies (including optimisation of drug doses) for improved application, efficacy and delivery of single or combinations of antimicrobials
  5. Design and implementation of innovative tools, including novel chemistry and/or new materials for improved application, efficacy and delivery of antimicrobials
• One Health Setting:

  Human Health Animal Health (including wild-life, livestock, fishes, and companion animals) Plants (including trees and crops)

• Type of studies/experimental approaches:

  in silico, in vitro, in vivo preclinical and clinical studies in human and in all veterinary settings studies in crop/plant settings, including field studies

• Keywords:

  EPR (spectroscopy & imaging); Liposomes (synthesis & labeling); ROS/RNS (detection); Ex vivo/In vitro/In vivo (testing); Oximetry (ex vivo & in vivo)

• Brief description of your expertise / expertise you are looking for:

  ROS/RNS spin trapping. Identification of various types of short-lived free radicals (OH, O2-, NO, SG, H, CH3, CH2OH …) produced in different systems (ex vivo/in vitro/in vivo). Detection of ROS/RNS production kinetics by reduction of spin probes. This method is used if we are not certain how many radical types are included in some reaction mechanism and for estimation of the redox activity of different compounds. Spin labeling of membranes. The method in which specially designed EPR active molecules called spin labels are used. These molecules are used to label the membrane (liposomes, plant, or animal cells) in order to evaluate the membrane properties (fluidity and stability). This method could reveal the existence of the process of controlled liposomes degradation or lipid peroxidation. Spin labeling of proteins and evaluation of their conformational changes. Design, synthesis, and functionalization of liposomes as nanoscale drug delivery systems. Spin labeling of liposomes and their tracking in vivo or ex vivo using EPR imaging. Low-temperature studies of metalloproteins and protein radicals. Identification of metal-coordination features of metalloproteins that contain transition metal ions (e.g. V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu), metal oxidation states, and types of ligands. Detection and quantification of thiyl and tyrosyl radicals in proteins. EPR imaging of small-volume samples (up to 200 µl). These experiments include EPR imaging in the X-band with a high spatial resolution (0.1 mm) and high sensitivity (nanomolar concentrations). In vivo EPR spectroscopy and imaging of small animals (rats, mice) for detection of ROS and RNS activity. These experiments include investigating the pharmacokinetics of nitroxides as measured using L-band EPR resonators. It could be observed that the EPR signal diminishes due to the clearance but also due to the reduction by endogenous scavengers, passing through the BBB, etc. EPR Oximetry. Simultaneously measuring the production of NO and the pO2 (concentration of oxygen) in sepsis using EPR spectroscopy in the L-band. EPR Oximetry is a technique for measuring the concentration of oxygen in different biological samples (ex vivo and in vivo). EPR/MRI imaging of trapped radicals. In vivo imaging of short-lived free radicals is an extremely difficult task. However, until new effective spin traps are found, the solution can be found in using MRI and the paramagnetic properties of trapped radicals as MRI contrast agents. This way, NO in vivo imaging is possible using the combined EPR/MRI approach. EPRI of ROS using protected hydroxylamines. Performing EPR measurements of oxidative stress during ischemia and reperfusion. The EPR spectrum and EPR image using nitroxide (generated by the oxidation of injected hydroxylamine in the mouse subject) is recorded. Subsequently, the same mouse is recorded on the MRI. Overlapping these EPRI and MRI images, the ischemic and normal side of the brain could be easily observed. EPR spectroscopy and imaging – topical applications: (a) Directly monitor the effect of drugs on skin (by detecting drug induced radical formation under pertinent therapeutic conditions); (b) Explore the effect of UV light on skin (UV light presents potent oxidative stress in the skin); (c) Monitor topical applications of liposomes as a delivery system of hydrophilic substances through the skin (nitroxides as surrogate drugs); (d) Early detection of skin malignant melanoma at the initial stage of development; (e) Monitor controlled release from implantable devices – nitroxides as surrogate drugs. For more info please visit: www.bioscope.ffh.bg.ac.rs

• Brief description of your project / the project you would like to join:

  We are searching for partners to collaborate within a consortium with the aim to develop novel strategies for bacterial and fungal drug-delivering methods (using new delivering routes and/or new smart nanoscale drug delivery systems).

Milos Mojovic

• Organisation: BioScope Labs - Faculty of Physical Chemistry - University of Belgrade
• Position: Full professor
• E-mail: milos@ffh.bg.ac.rs
• Phone: +381641128379
• Web: www.bioscope.ffh.bg.ac.rs