Lectures:

• Fundamentals of nanotechnology and nanomedicine: physicochemical principles at the nanoscale, nano–bio interactions, and rational design of nanomaterials for biomedical applications.
• Major classes of nanocarriers and nanomaterials for medical applications (lipid nanoparticles, polymeric and inorganic nanoparticles, biomimetic nanomaterials, extracellular vesicles, and exosomes), including methods for their synthesis, manufacturing, characterization, and quality control.
• Functionalization and multifunctionalization strategies for nanoparticles aimed at active targeting, controlled drug release, multimodal imaging, and theranostic applications.
• Nanomedicine for the delivery of biologics and nucleic acid therapeutics, including mRNA, siRNA, and CRISPR/Cas-based gene-editing systems.
• Applications of nanomedicine in oncology: targeted drug delivery, cancer immunotherapy, combination therapies, and precision medicine approaches.
• Applications of nanomedicine in neurological and neurodegenerative diseases: blood–brain barrier targeting, neuroimaging, and innovative therapeutic strategies.
• Pharmacokinetics, biodistribution, safety, and immunocompatibility of nanoparticles, including protein corona formation, immune interactions, and regulatory considerations.
• Advanced methodologies for studying the biological fate of nanoparticles, including in vivo imaging, multimodal tracking, advanced cellular models, organoids, and organ-on-chip systems.
• Intracellular trafficking, cellular uptake mechanisms, subcellular targeting, and intracellular delivery of drugs and biomacromolecules.
• Biomimetic nanomedicine: cell membrane-coated nanoparticles, extracellular vesicles, exosomes, and bioinspired delivery systems.
• Advanced biomaterials for regenerative medicine and tissue engineering, including smart hydrogels, stimuli-responsive biomaterials, and biofabrication approaches.
• Nanorobotics, microrobotics, and intelligent nanosystems for diagnosis, therapy, and minimally invasive biomedical interventions.
• Artificial intelligence and data-driven approaches for the design, optimization, and translational development of nanomedicines.
• Translational aspects of nanomedicine, including GMP manufacturing, preclinical and clinical evaluation, regulatory pathways, and emerging future perspectives.

Laboratory:

Preparation, functionalization, drug-loading and characterization of lipid-based nanoparticles. Critical discussion of the results from the preclinical point of view. Overview of the instrumentation useful for scientific research in the field of nanotechnology and nanomedicine.