BIKIARIS LAB

Nowadays, more than 1.5 billion people worldwide suffer from neurodegenerative disorders such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, and others. Neurodegenerative diseases are the fourth leading cause of death and 10 million new cases per year are reported. The development of therapeutic agents that could enhance re-myelination or prevent degeneration is a major challenge for neuroscientists. Recently, antibodies to two myelin-derived neuronal regeneration inhibitors have been developed, particularly Nogo-A (Ozanezumab) and LINGO-1 (Opicinumab). The inhibition of the above proteins has beneficial effects on demyelinating animal models and specific antibodies are used in clinical studies aimed at re-myelinization and neuroprotection. Cancer is the second cause of death after cardiovascular diseases, and prostate cancer (PCa) is the most prevalent cancer in men with 750,000 new cases and 140,000 deaths every year in the developed world. Many genetic alterations mainly to the Akt / PI3K and RAS / ERK signaling pathways are associated with the disease, and the most common are the ETS gene chromosomal rearrangements. Treatments with anti-androgens are effective in early stages but in later stages or on metastatic tumors. The lack of animal models that closely approximate the progression of the disease and the lack of new therapeutic agents other than androgens is one of the main problems in dealing with advanced stages of the disease and high mortality. Hence both fields are of intense activity in the pharmaceutical industry. In this context, effective and targeted administration with suitable biocompatible polymeric carriers is a feasible goal for the production of new and innovative pharmaceutical formulations. The polymers are widely used as active pharmaceutical drug delivery vehicles and almost all the novel formulations currently produced contain biocompatible polymers. This project aims to develop new controlled release drugs for some of the most serious diseases with enormous socio-economic significance and burden, such as neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. Many therapeutic approaches are in preclinical or clinical trials for both diseases and include new drugs, drug reformulation and pharmacokinetic optimization of existing ones. Despite the progress made in recent years, effective tackling of these diseases remains a challenge, and even small improvements have significant social and economic impact. The aim of this project is to test new compounds such as anti-LINGO and anti-NOGO antibodies and hydrophobic inhibitors of MEK / MAPK with proven anti-cancer and / or anti-degenerative activity and to prepare novel pharmaceutical formulations for their targeted and controlled administration to give new directions and tools in the fight of neurodegenerative disorders and cancer.

​

Duration: 28/07/2020- 27/06/2023

​

Publications in scientific papers with impact factor​

1. Block copolymers based on poly(butylene adipate) and poly(l-lactic acid) for biomedical applications: synthesis, structure and thermodynamical studies

2. Evaluation of poly(lactic acid)/ and poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)/ poly(ethylene adipate) copolymers for the preparation of paclitaxel loaded drug nanoparticles

​

Posters in scientific conferences