NATEMOC : An ANR funded project for Pr Catherine Passirani Research

NATEMOC : NAnoengineering and Therapeutic Evaluation of a novel bioorganoMetallic complex with high potent antitumor activity for Ovarian Cancer

This research project directed by Pr Catherine Passirani is granted by the French Research Agency (ANR) for the coming 4 years.

Ferrocifens have been demonstrated to display anticancer properties by an original mechanism dependent on redox properties and generation of active metabolites targeting mitochondrial enzymes. However, these molecules are highly insoluble in water, requiring a formulation stage before they can be in vivo administered: lipid nanocapsules (LNC) have already demonstrated their ability to successfully encapsulate various hydrophobic therapeutic agents, such as ferrocifens, and offer the option of surface modification, making it possible to adapt the pharmacological behavior of the nanocarrier. Recent studies have highlighted the positive impact of oxidative stress on chemosensitivity and prognosis of ovarian cancer patients. Therefore, ovarian adenocarcinomas are an excellent model for defining the impact of selected ferrocifen loaded LNC as new therapeutic strategy. NateMoc proposes a unique approach that brings together a consortium of three complementary research teams with the goal of obtaining a proof of concept of the preclinical efficacy of ferrocifen loaded LNC in ovarian cancer. The consortium displays all the necessary chemical, technological, biological and pharmacological expertise gathering (i) the MINT laboratory (Partner 1) labelized by both INSERM and CNRS that will coordinate the project, internationally recognized in pharmaceutical technology (especially in nanomedicines), where the first encapsulation of ferrocifens was performed, (ii) the small innovatory company, Feroscan (Partner 2), that holds the patent of ferrocifens and works on the design and mechanistic behavior of new molecules, based on initial work done at Chimie Paris Tech, (iii) the Preclinical Investigation Laboratory (LIP) (Partner 3) of the Translational Research Department of Institut Curie which has developed relevant animal cancer models and displays a recognized in vivo expertise in pharmacology. NanoMetOv main goal is to carry out tightly focused cutting-edge research strategy with significant implications for public health in near future. Indeed, NaTeMOc aims at providing the proof of concept establishing the benefit of applying salient pro-oxidative drugs via original nanomedicine for treatment of ovarian cancer patients. This project will also provide an important cognitive value, both at Chemistry/Nanomedicine and Biology levels, through the synthesis of innovative chemical compounds, their formulation into active targeting nanocarriers and the study of a novel cancer metabolism deregulation.

Consortium members:

MINT : Pr Catherine Passirani (catherine.passirani @ univ-angers.fr (catherine.passirani @ univ-angers.fr))

Feroscan : Franck Pradier, CEO ( franck.pradier @ gmail.com (franck.pradier @ gmail.com))

Curie Institute/Laboratoire d'investigation Préclinique: Dr. Didier Decaudin, MD, PhD (didier.decaudin @ curie.fr (didier.decaudin @ curie.fr))