CUPIDO: Cardio Ultraefficient nanoParticles for Inhalation of Drug prOducts
The EU-funded project Cupido, started in February 2017, proposes an innovative solution: the application of nanotechnologies to the cardiovascular field. Cupido aims to hit the core of the cardiovascular disease, developing inhalable nanoparticles that can deliver a therapy directly to the diseased heart. Nanoparticles are extremely tiny, almost 1 million times smaller than a grain of sand in size and far too small to see with conventional microscopes. Exploiting such a tiny system as a route of administration can revolutionize the cardiovascular field, becoming the first non-invasive and heart-specific therapy. To achieve the goal, the Cupido consortium is working to develop biocompatible and biodegradable nanoparticles that can self-assemble and encapsulate drugs (novel or available) for cardiovascular disease. The nanoparticles, once inhaled, will first reach the lungs and later will translocate to the heart, where the drug will be finally released on the site of interest. The heart-specificity will be ensured thanks to chemical and magnetic guidance, reducing the chances of adverse side effects. Simula's role is to develop novel numerical methods for simulating nanoparticle deposition to enhance efficacy and to accelerate deposition in studies from small to large animals, but ultimately also humans. For more information, see the projects homepage.