Soft matter for drug delivery, tissue engineering & imaging
Confronting soft matter with biological environments is at the heart of many of the team’s research themes, from drug delivery (e.g. photodynamic therapy) to tissue engineering (hydrogels) and imaging (contrast agents).
Imaging with contrast agent
Our transdisciplinary team approaches this theme along two axes:
The first one consists in developing different colloidal systems as tools for the transport of organic or inorganic active species. We are focused in particular on the study of the structural/behavioral modifications resulting from their interaction with biological media, either in the transport phases in confined environments or when interacting with synthetic or biological membranes.
Polymer micelles interaction with a model membrane
Penetration of pheophorbide (PDT) into a tumour spheroid
The second axis is centered on examining the response of biological systems (2D cell cultures, 3D spheroids, dermal and skin substitutes reconstructed by tissue engineering) to different vectors, chemical compounds and physical stimuli. We analyse (photo)cytotoxicity, cell and tissue penetration, cell properties (migration, extracellular matrix remodeling, angiogenesis) and therapeutic activity, especially in the context of photodynamic therapy (PDT) and regenerative medicine.
Laboratory members involved in this topic
