Sinteza in funkcionalizacija kompozitnih nanokroglic za zgodnje odkrivanje neurodegenerativnih bolezni (Slovene)

A major drawback of population ageing in developed countries is an enormous increase of neurodegenerative diseases. According to the late statistics, a third of population older than 60 years exhibit symptoms of such diseases. Recent results obtained in European centres for investigation of the diseases showed that they are due to extraordinary increase of the prion-like molecules in the body fluids, especially cerebrospinal fluid and blood. Therefore, it is very important to detect specific disease in its early stage. Since the concentration of prions is very small, there was a need to develop a method for their separation from biological samples. We have developed two new procedures for synthesis of magnetic composite particles. The first procedure includes the synthesis of magnetic liposomes, and the other one includes the synthesis of magnetic sponge particles. Both composite particles have some certain advantages. Liposomes, which are bilayered phospholipid vesicles, are biodegradable particles, while the sponge particles, which are made of calcium carbonate matrix, are more stable particles compared with the liposomes. Both types of magnetic composite particles have many potential uses in medicine. They can not be used just as a method for the separation of specific substances from biological fluids, but also as carriers of therapeutic drugs to the specific targets. With appropriate external magnetic field is be possible to move the magnetic particles to the desired position. By this means we offer a new approach to local treatment of certain diseases.

To the best of our knowledge there are not many groups in Slovenia performing research that leads to development of new products for biomedical applications. Such products are characterized by high value added. The results obtained within this project will enhance research activities in this field which is a priority scientific topic in the developed countries worldwide. Our activities within the project enable Slovenian partners to compete with groups in the developed countries and open a niche which is characterized by extremely high value added.