9th Webinar on Cells

The Interaction of Biomedical Nanoparticles with the Immune System

The use of nanoparticles in different biomedical applications, such as targeted drug delivery, hyperthermia, photoablation therapy, bioimaging and biosensors, exhibits several advantages compared to conventional therapeutics of many diseases, and significantly overcomes the current therapeutic limitations. Despite multiple nanoparticles have already reached the clinic, the translation is often hampered due to their potential toxic effects, including immunological alterations. Our immune system has a crucial role in protecting us from foreign intruders, and sometimes nanoparticles are recognized as intruders. In this regard, many strategies have been attempted to improve the therapeutic efficacy of nanoparticles and exploit their unique properties for the treatment of immune related diseases.

This webinar will certaintly help to give new insigths about the “The interaction of biomedical nanoparticles with the immune system” through the presentation of three representative works under this theme. The Special Issue under this same theme, which will be published by the open access journal Cells, is open for submissions.

Date: 25 June 2021

Time: 10:00 am CEST | 4:00 am EDT | 4:00 pm CST Asia

Webinar ID: 883 4927 2541

Webinar Secretariat: cells.webinar@mdpi.com

On Friday, 25 June 2021, MDPI and the Journal Cells organized the 9th webinar on Cells, entitled "The Interaction of Biomedical Nanoparticles with the Immune System".

The introduction was held by the Chair of the webinar, Dr. Marisa Freitas, an Assistant Researcher at the Associated Laboratory for Green Chemistry of the Network of Chemistry and Technology, working at the Laboratory of Applied Chemistry of the Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Porto (LAQV-REQUIMTE). Her scientific background is supported by 78 publications in international journals, 5 book chapters, 40 oral communications and over 100 poster communications in national and international conferences, with 3 attributed awards. She participated in several projects funded by national and international funds and she collaborates as a reviewer in more than 20 journals and participates in the Editorial Board of 4 journals.

The first speaker to quick off this webinar was Dr. Ana Rufino. She is also a researcher in the internationally recognized research centre in the area of Green Chemistry, LAQV-REQUIMTE in Porto, Portugal. Her research interests are the identification of natural products for therapeutic use as well as further validation and exploration of their potential use in different pathologies with a chronic inflammatory component. Her presentation was entitled "Protective Role of Flavonoids Against Intestinal Pro-Inflammatory Effects of Silver Nanoparticles".

The second presentation with the title "H-Ferritin Nanoparticles for the Activation of ADCC Response: A Promising Strategy for Cancer Therapy" was held by Dr. Luisa Fiandra. She is an Assistant Professor in Clinical Biochemistry at the Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences of the University of Milano-Bicocca in Italy, and she is also a member of Centro 3R (Inter-University Center for the Promotion of the 3Rs Principles in Teaching & Research). She is devoted to the use of advanced cellular models for the validation of conventional or latest generation therapies directed towards tumor pathologies.

Dr. Paola Italiani from the Institute of Protein Biochemistry at the National Research Council in Naples, Italy was the third speaker and her presentation was entitled "Modulation of Innate Immune Memory: A New Perspective in the Personalized Biomedical Application of Nanoparticles". In the last years, she has focussed her research interest on the mechanisms of the inflammatory response and of the activation of innate defense cells in physiological conditions and during pathological derangements. In this context, she is studying the role of human monocytes and macrophages in the development of the inflammatory response, in terms of their functional polarization in response to different microenvironments, and their consequent capacity to differentially shaping the inflammatory reaction.

Each presentation was followed by a short Q&A, moderated by the Chair. The webinar was offered via Zoom and required registration to attend. The full recording can be found here on Sciforum website. In order to stay updated on the next webinars on Cells, be sure to sign up for our newsletter by clicking on “Subscribe” at the top of the page.

The Interaction of Biomedical Nanoparticles with the Immune System
Guest Editors: Dr. Marisa Freitas, Prof. Dr. Francesca Granucci, Dr. Daniela Ribeiro
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2021

Frontiers in Oncology Nanomedicine: Toward Novel Personalized Medicine Tools to Fight Human Cancer
Guest Editor: Dr. Sergio Comincini
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2021)