Phase 1:

EVs PRODUCTION:

Selection of the natural source and optimization
of culture condition at pre-industrial scale.

Phase 2:

ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION:

Isolation and physiochemical characterization
of the extracellular vesicles.

Phase 3:

FUNCTIONALIZATION AND LOAD:

Functionalization and load of the EVs selected
from the previous phase. These vesicles may
differ according to the different sector needs.

Phase 4:

BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY:

Biological activity of the EVs explored both
in vitro and in vivo

FROM A NATURAL SOURCE…

TO A COMMERCIAL PRODUCT

VES4US aims at creating a fundamentally new bioprocessing approach to generate and functionalise EVs from a renewable biological source using state-of-the-art technologies that have emerged in recent years as potent signal transducers, and cell-cell communicators. EVs will be loaded with specific cargoes directly in isolated EVs or by the modulation of producer cells. Membrane engineering for targeting purposes is expected to allow generating vesicle carriers with unprecedented abilities for delivery in specific tissues such as, brain, lung, skin, dendritic or tumour cells.

This innovative research will focus on developing natural derived cells biotechnology to translate fundamental work outputs into market-led opportunities relevant to the nanomedicine, cosmetic and nutraceutics sectors. It is anticipated that VES4US results could replace less societal accepted animal-derived pharmaceuticals or chemical liposomes, as future vehicles for targeted drug/active compound delivery, influencing health and human wellbeing. The biotech industry generates millions of euros of revenue and sustains a sizeable work force, VES4US will undertake high risk

and high gain foundation work for future internationally excellent research by promoting natural derived EVs with deep knowledge of specific sectorial needs. Industrial stakeholders could be a direct beneficiary of VES4US and potentially invest in the technology developed especially for follow-on work with bioengineered of this nanovesicles.

Not only the cosmetics or bio industry will be affected, an aspect of the implementation of the principle of Smart Economy is the commitment towards the training of a highly qualified workforce to meet the future needs of the European society and develop a knowledge-based economy. This approach of developing human capital for the future will be embraced with the recruitment of high calibre postgraduate students and staff and the translation of research aspects into undergraduate education. A career development plan will be realised for each recruited Postdocs and PGs. This will be realised for example via research-based learning and the embedding of VES4US outputs in some teaching components of science programmes delivered at the partner institutions.

VES4US aims at creating a fundamentally new bioprocessing approach to generate and functionalise EVs from a renewable biological source using state-of-the-art technologies that have emerged in recent years as potent signal transducers, and cell-cell communicators. EVs will be loaded with specific cargoes directly in isolated EVs or by the modulation of producer cells. Membrane engineering for targeting purposes is expected to allow generating vesicle carriers with unprecedented abilities for delivery in specific tissues such as, brain, lung, skin, dendritic or tumour cells.

This innovative research will focus on developing natural derived cells biotechnology to translate fundamental work outputs into market-led opportunities relevant to the nanomedicine, cosmetic and nutraceutics sectors. It is anticipated that VES4US results could replace less societal accepted animal-derived pharmaceuticals or chemical liposomes, as future vehicles for targeted drug/active compound delivery, influencing health and human wellbeing. The biotech industry generates millions of euros of revenue and sustains a sizeable work force, VES4US will undertake high risk and high gain foundation work for future internationally excellent research by promoting natural derived EVs with deep knowledge of specific sectorial needs. Industrial stakeholders could be a direct beneficiary of VES4US and potentially invest in the technology developed especially for follow-on work with bioengineered of this nanovesicles.

Not only the cosmetics or bio industry will be affected, an aspect of the implementation of the principle of Smart Economy is the commitment towards the training of a highly qualified workforce to meet the future needs of the European society and develop a knowledge-based economy. This approach of developing human capital for the future will be embraced with the recruitment of high calibre postgraduate students and staff and the translation of research aspects into undergraduate education. A career development plan will be realised for each recruited Postdocs and PGs. This will be realised for example via research-based learning and the embedding of VES4US outputs in some teaching components of science programmes delivered at the partner institutions.

Education and training

VES4US is highly interdisciplinary and involves teams from different institutes covering different research disciplines including Aquatic Biological Sciences, Nanomedicine, Green Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, Genetics, Biochemical Engineering, Biotechnology, Biophysics, Microfluidics, Nanotechnology among others. This project has a commitment towards the training of a highly qualified workforce to meet the future needs of the European society and develop a knowledge-based economy.

Training and exchanges via staff and student travel among the consortium members will be encouraged to genuinely improve the interdisciplinary methodology. These measures will enhance cooperation and synergy between the consortium members. Detailed actions (training plan) will be undertaken to improve the interdisciplinary methodology and the scientific cross-fertilisation amongst the partners by training staff and students of each participant institution for targeted collaborative experimentation. This will be realised by visits to host institutions and the organisation of ‘hands-on’ workshops on specific thematics during the yearly meetings.

VES4US wants to go a step forward in the quality generation and management of research and will apply a Quality management system compatible to UNI EN ISO 9001:2015 and OECD GLP standards. This quality plan for the management of procedures will include personnel training on Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) to control major experimental activities for harvesting, manipulating, storing, characterising and treating EVs, as well as for key related activities.

PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT

VES4US will also aim at promoting public engagement (short-term) by involving students from schools to contribute to simple experiments at STEM focused or Open Day events which are annually organised on the premises of some of the partner institutions within VES4US (short-term).

As a next step in contributing to the EV field, VES4US in collaboration with academic and industrial partners, we will investigate the potential and suitability of developing a module on natural source-derived EVs on an educational massive open online course (MOOCs).

Job Positions

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