Nanotechnology and Nanomedicine

This e-learning programme is or a open to suitably qualified Greek and International graduates, holding at least a Degree in Medicine, Biology (Biomedical or Biochemical subject), Pharmacy, Chemistry, or in a related field.

Nanomedicine, the application of nanotechnology to medicine, has opened up a new, previously unimaginable world in disease diagnosis and therapy. Today new multifunctional nanoplatforms can be constructed that have capabilities for specific disease targeting and therapy, using moieties such as antibodies, and that contain therapeutic payloads that can be released at the disease site. The vision of combining diagnostics and therapeutics, now being referred to as theranostics, was considered futuristic only a few years ago, but is now clearly achievable – the future is almost now!

Currently, the main use of nanoparticle medicinal products (NMP) is their conjugation or/and encapsulation with several active biomolecules for therapeutic or/and diagnostic purposes, since they can be used as drug carriers for chemotherapeutics to deliver medication directly to the tumor while sparing healthy tissue. Corresponding products already marketed, are Doxil™ (a chemotherapy drug, doxorubicin, is encapsulated in a liposome) and more recently Abraxane™ (Protein-bound paclitaxel is an injectable formulation of paclitaxel, a drug used to treat breast cancer, lung cancer and pancreatic cancer, by preventing the normal breakdown of microtubules during cell division and thus minimizing the spread of cancer cells in the body. In this formulation, paclitaxel is bonded to albumin as a delivery vehicle). At the same time, researches are now focused on the construction of advanced nanotherapeutic approaches, such as DNA nanostructure carriers, nanovaccines and gene nanotherapy.

In this programme critical issues of nano-based targeted drug delivery and therapy are going to be discussed. The course is also focusing in several interesting regulatory and ethical aspects of the use of nanothechnology in every day clinical practice. 

 

Lesson 1
Targeting strategies in drug delivery
Section 1.1.Targeting strategies
1.1.1.Passive targeting
1.1.2.Active targeting
Section 1.2. Approaches for in vivo nanoparticle delivery
1.2.1. Non-specific, localized use of nanoparticles
1.2.2. Specific nanoparticle targeting
Section 1.3. Targeting agents in drug delivery
1.3.1. Antibodies
1.3.2. Aptamers
1.3.3. Peptides
1.3.4. Nucleic Acids

Lesson  2 
Strategies for controlled drug delivery
Section 2.1. Thermo-responsive release
Section 2.2. Enzyme responsive release
Section 2.3. pH responsive release

Lesson  3 
Challenges in the use of nanoformulations for drug delivery
Section 3.1. Barriers
Section 3.2. Opportunities
Section 3.3. Nanoformulations in current clinical practice 

Lesson 4 
Nanoparticulates and their applications in drug delivery
Section 4.1. Short Introduction and  Basic principles on Nanotechnology
Section 4.2.Nanoparticulate systems in therapeutics
4.2.1. Lipidic nanosystems ( Lipidic drug carriers, Liposomes)
4.2.2 Polymeric  nanosystems (Polymerosomes,  Dendrimers)
4.2.3 Mixed nanosystems (Hybridic nanosystems,  Chimeric nanosystems)

Lesson 5 
Nanosystems characteristics
Section 5.1 Biophysical principles of nanosystems
Section 5.2 Stability of nanosystems

Lesson   6 
Nanosimilars and Regulatory aspects
Section 6.1 Nanosimilars
6.1.1 Regulatory aspects
Section 6.2. Regulatory issues of nanomedicines
6.2.1 U S Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
6.2.2 European Medicine Agency (EMA)

Lesson 7 
Polymeric systems for Drug and Gene delivery
Section 7.1.  Polymeric Hydrogels for Drug and Gene delivery of Anticancer Agents
Section 7.2. Polymeric Nanogels for Drug and Gene delivery of Anticancer Agents
Section 7.3. Polymeric cysts for Drug and Gene delivery of Anticancer Agents

Lesson  8 
Nanotechnology-based advanced therapeutics
Section 8.1. Photothermal therapy
Section 8.2. Ultrasound-mediated therapy
Section 8.3. Acoustic cavitation therapy
Section 8.4. DNA delivery for gene therapy
Section 8.5. Vaccines delivery

Lesson  9 
Nanotechnology-based Theranostics
Section 9.1. Theranostics
9.1.1. Nanotechnology for personalized disease management
9.1.2. Theranostic Nanopaticles
Section 9.2. Combinational Delivery approaches
9.2.1. Simultaneous delivery of chemotherapeutic agents
9.2.2. Combinational chemotherapy/antiangiogenesis
9.2.3. Combinational chemotherapy/si-RNA therapy
9.2.4. Combinational chemotherapy/gene therapy
Section 9.3. Multifunctional theranostic systems: the future of theranostics

Lesson  10
Discussion of ethical issues and future perspectives
Section 10.1. Nano-Toxicity
10.1.1.Nanoparticles and Cellular interaction
10.1.2. Organs nanoparticles uptake
10.1.3. Future perspectives
Section 10.2. Nano-ethics
10.2.1. Privacy and Control
10.2.2. Toxicology and human health
10.2.3. Longevity

Assessment will be performed through exercises in each Unit. The exercises will consist of several exercise types like List-matching, Upload, Pick-one, Boolean and Fill the blanks. The validation procedure will ensure the knowledge increase of the e-learners throughout the whole programme.

Online and distance training learning at National and Kapodistrian University of Athens offers a new way of combining innovative learning and training techniques with interaction with your tutor and fellow trainees from around the world.

The e-learning course is implemented via a user-friendly educational platform adjusted to the Distance Learning Principles. Courses are structured as weekly online meetings; interaction with the course tutor and other trainees takes place in a digital learning environment. The courses are designed to fit around your schedule; you access the course whenever it is convenient for you, however within the given deadlines.

The whole world becomes your classroom as e-learning can be done on laptops, tablets and phones as a very mobile method. Learning can be done on the train, on a plane or even during your trip to Greece!

The educational platform is a portal that offers access to electronic educational material based on modern distance learning technologies. The computer based nature of training means new technology is being introduced all the time to help trainees engage and learn in a tailored way that will meet their needs. E-learners have access to the educational platform with their personal code number in order to browse all relevant training material and interact with their instructors.

Moreover, an online communication system through own personal e-mail account is available in order to make the process easier and more interactive. Trainees can contact directly their tutors or the administration office of the course and share any concerns or anxieties related to the course in order to make the most of their experience.

Every week e-learners are provided with the relevant material, delivered either in the form of video-lectures, text notes and relevant presentations or as a combination of them. The educational material of the course is uploaded gradually, per educational unit. During the course, important info for the smooth conduct of the educational process, such as timetables for the submission of the exercises are announced on the Announcement section of the platform.

For successful completion of the course the e-learner should have fulfill her/his academic obligations, meaning should have submitted all corresponding assessment exercises and have achieved at least an average of 50% grade in the corresponding tests for each module. The score scale ranges from 0 to 100%. Finally, if the total score on one or more lessons of the course does not exceed 50%, trainees can ask for reassessment.

During the course trainees will be attending a training experience designed by academics and lecturers from the National University of Athens as well as from other Universities, Research Institutes and Cultural organizations around Greece.

Interactivity, flexibility and our long tradition guarantee that learning with us offers a successful and rewarding experience. Finally, access to a large variety of material and online resources available in each unit aims to excite your curiosity and guide you in exploring further your favourite topic. Part of the online material can be downloaded providing the chance to quickly refresh your memory after the completion of the course.

When will I receive the Certificate?

The Certificate will be sent to you electronically 30 working days upon completion, if you have no remaining academic or financial obligations. The Certificate will be also sent to you through traditional post services. Upon request the Certificate can be sent with the use of courier services. In this case, the relative cost should be covered by your side.