Issue2;March2019

NEWSLETTER

MARCH2019

ISSUE2

ContactusTheBritishSocietyforNanomedicine(registeredcharityno.1151497)ishostedattheUniversityofLiverpool.ForqueriesorfeedbackpleasecompleteouronlineenquiryformorcontactJoSharp,theSecretaryoftheSocietyat:UniversityofLiverpool;DepartmentofClinical&MolecularPharmacology,1stFloor,HBlock,70 PembrokePlace,L693GF,Liverpoolemail:Joanne.Livermore@liverpool.ac.ukphone:+44151-7945553

Twitter:@BritSocNanomed

WelcometotheBritishSocietyforNanomedicine(BSNM)Newsletter

With the global benefits of the new science of nanomedicine growingeach year, the British Society for Nanomedicine has been created toallow open access for industry, academia, clinicians and the public tonewsanddetailsofongoingresearchthroughouttheUK.As a registeredcharity (Charity number 1151497)ourmission includesthe direct explanation of the ongoing science and commercialdevelopmentstoallowthepublictounderstandandstayintouchwiththis exciting area as it impacts future global healthcare. Scientists canalso present their latest advances andhighlight theirwork to industryandotherresearchers.The Society is affiliated to other leading organisations involved withnanomedicine including: CLINAM, the European Technology PlatformforNanomedicine,theBritishPharmacologicalSocietyandtheAmericanSocietyforNanomedicine.This newsletter will endeavour to keep you up to date with all thevarious activities of the Society and keep you posted on upcomingconferences and events. If you have any questions regarding thisnewsletteroranyotheraspectof theSocietyasawhole,pleasedon’thesitatetogetintouch.

Issue2;March2019

Open access research in interdisciplinary nanomedicine

All articles are freely available to read, download and share

Now accepting submissionsSubmit your manuscript to JOIN www.JOINjournal.com

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TheEuropeanNanomedicineMeeting(ENM) was held in King’s CollegeLondon, April 3rd – 4th, 2017. Themeetingwas one of the largest heldbytheBSNMtodatewithalmost150delegates and was sponsored by anarrayofindustrialpartners.

The meeting opened with shortpresentations from all the Europeannanomedicine groups including TheBritish Society, French Society andthe Spanish and German Platforms.ThechairmanofNanoMedNorth,UlfG Andersson also gave a shortpresentation and there was anoverviewoftheUSactivitiestoo.

The European NanomedicineCharacterisation Laboratory (EUNCL)session,chairedbyProfessorAndrewOwen, began with an overview ofEUNCL by Dr Simon Baconnier andincluded presentations on chemicalcharacterisation and biocompatibility

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testing.Thesessionconcludedwithapresentation about the regulatorychallenges of nanomedicines whichledintoadiscussionpanel.

King’sCollegeLondonwasafantasticvenue and the Great Hall held thelunchtimepostersessionsandallourexhibitors, allowing for networkingandcontinueddiscussionsaswellasalovelylunch.

Theafternoonofday1startedwithaFundamental Nanomedicine sessionwith speakers such as ProfessorCameron Alexander fromNottingham, Professor Yuri Volkovfrom Ireland and a sponsorcommunication from Postnova. Theafternoon ended with presentationson nanosensors, nanopores andnanolithographyaswellasa sponsorpresentationbyMalvern.

The evening entertainment was a

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fantastic gala dinner, catered for byFoodbyDish,held inTheCryptofStPaul’s Cathedral. Everyone had afantasticeveningsocialising.

The followingmorningstartedwithaPreclinical Nanomedicine sessionchaired by DrMay Azzawi. Speakersfrom Germany, UK, Poland andScotland presented their work ondrug targeting in atherothromboticdisease,nanotheranosticsintargeteddrug delivery, nanotechnology formedical devices and targetednanomedicines for cancer therapy,respectively.

After coffee the session continuedwith presentations on radiolabellingmethodology, nanocapsules formicroRNA replacement therapy,novel copper-tirapazamineliposomesand a sponsored presentation byIZON. The morning session wasfollowedby a secondposter session,

ENM2017Review–JoSharp(UniversityofLiverpool)

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ENM2017Review–Continued

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allowing over 60 posters to bepresentedtothejudges.

The afternoon started with aTranslational Nanomedicine session.Dr Michael Sperling from Germanypresented fantastic images ofnanoparticles in rat lung tissue andLea Ann Dailey from Belfastpresented her work on making asmooth road to translation inNanomedicine. Dr Enza Torino fromItaly presented her work onnanostructures for therapy andmultimodalimagingapplications.

After coffee, the afternoon sessioncontinued in translationalnanomedicine with presentations onmagnetic blood purification,polypeptide nanoparticles forsustained delivery and aninvestigation into IV PEG-liposomalcorticosteroids. The sessionconcluded with a sponsorpresentation by Precision

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Nanosystems.

As day 2 came to a close, ProfessorSteveConlanchairedthefinalsessiondiscussing the future needs fromnanomedicine includingpresentations from Professor ChrisScott about the future direction ofnanomedicinetherapeutics,ProfessorPatrick Boisseau talked about theETPN nanomedicine translation huband Alex Saxon from ResearchCouncils UK discussed pathways innanomedicineintheUK.

NanomedTAB (the first EuropeanNanomedicine Translation AdvisoryBoard) also held simultaneous drop-in sessions during the secondday toallowface-to-facemeetingstodiscusshow the most promising projectscould be helped through translationto market. This free of chargeguidancefromexpertswasinvaluabletoourattendees.

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Prizesof£500eachwereawardedforthe best two oral presentations,sponsoredby theBSNMand SFNanoand prizes of £250 each wereawarded to the two best posterpresentations, sponsored by theSpanish and German NanomedicinePlatforms. Our congratulations go tothoseprizewinners!

The ENM 2017 was an interesting,collaborative meeting which allowedforbothseasonedspeakersandearlycareer researchers to take to thestageandpresenttheirlatestworkorfor work to be presented as postersin the Great Hall alongside thesponsorsandexhibitors.

Wewould like tothankoursponsorsof this event and we hope to holdanother similar event in years tocome.

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The 3rd annual BSNM Early CareerResearchers Meeting took place 10-11August2017inQueen’sUniversityBelfast. This event gives youngresearchersofalllevelswhetherPhD,postdoctoralorearlystagefellowsanopportunitytopresenttheirworkinalaidback, inclusive and supportiveenvironment.

Nanomedicine is an inherentlyinterdisciplinaryandappliedfieldandthe keynote lectures reflected thiswell: Fred Currell (QUB) delved into

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theinterfaceofphysicsandmedicinein his keynote lecture aboutirradiation of heavy atomnanoparticles. Adriele Prina-Mello(Trinity College Dublin) emphasisedthe importance of standardisedcharacterisation to improve clinicaltranslation of nanomedicines whichhas been notably lacking so fardespite the large amount of basicresearchperformed.

Talksandpostersfromtheyoung(er)researchers spanned the breadth of

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nanomedicine: from organic toinorganic nanomaterials, drugdelivery to biosensors, cancer toregenerative medicine. There weremany opportunities for discussion ofresearch among nano-focusedresearchers, a rarity as fewconferences focus specifically onnanomedicine.The traditional ceilidhafter the conference dinner alsoproved to be a great (if tiring)icebreakerandwasagreatwaytogettoknowtheBSNMcommunity.

5th July 2019

5th Annual Keele Nanopharmaceutics SymposiumKeele University,

Sustainability Hub

No registration feeIf you are planning to attend please email Dr Clare Hoskins: c.hoskins@keele.ac.uk to register

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In its 5th year running, this highlysuccessful conference was held inManchester in June 2018. Thethree-day event was attended bydelegatesworldwide, supportedbythe Nanosmat, the PolishBiomaterial Societies and BritishSociety for Nanomedicine,representinganimportantplatformfor networking and exchangingknowledge. Over twenty expertsand international invited speakers,deliveredkeynoteandplenarytalksin a number of parallel sessions,focusing on key areas in theapplication of nanotechnology inmedicine including, Biomaterialscience; Diagnostics and Imaging;Drug Delivery; and TissueEngineering.

The first day’s afternoonsymposium ‘Nanomedicine for

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therapy: Bench-to-bedside’, wasorganisedby theBritish Society forNanomedicine and chaired byMayAzzawi and Yvonne Alexander(Manchester MetropolitanUniversity, UK). The five talkshighlighted the delivery andapplications of novelnanoformulations towardspersonalisedtherapyofkeychronicconditions, including cancer. Inparticular, Andrew Owen(Universityof Liverpool,UK)sharedhis group’s research on thepromising application of solid drugnanoparticles(SDNs),aslong-actinginjectablesforthetreatmentofHIVand malaria, to overcome theproblemofdrugadherence.Detailson the use of a nanogel-based insitu formingimplantfor longactingdrug release, were furtherdiscussed by Tom McDonald

NANOMED2018Review-CaiAstleyandMayAzzawi(ManchesterMetropolitanUniversity)

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(University of Liverpool,UK).Novelnanoformlations were alsohighlighted in the treatment ofdifficult pathogens; a very inspiringtalk delivered by Chris Scott(Queen’s University Belfast, UK).Steve Conlan,(SwanseaUniversity,UK) discussedhisgroup’s key findings in theareaof therapeutics and applications ofnanomedicines in gynaecologicalcancers and this was followed byChristineDufes’s talk (University ofStrathclyde, UK) on the promisinguse of targeted dendrimer-lactoferrin biomolecules, encodingthe cytokines IL-12 and TNF-α forthe regression of prostate tumoursinpreclinicalstudies.

The ‘Welcome reception’, at theend of day one, was addressed by

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AndyGibson,Pro-viceChancellorofManchester MetropolitanUniversity, and encompassed avibrant poster session thatshowcased an array of expertiseandhighlightedtheinterdisciplinaryfeel of the conference. The bestposter prize (sponsored by theBritish Society for Nanomedicine)was awarded toMoussaMahamatYaya, final year PhD student, fromthe University of Bradford, for hisworkonthetherapeuticapplicationof organic nanoparticles, entitled:‘Hydrocortisone acetate andsodium succinate liposomalpreparations for ophthalmicapplicationsusingmicrofluidics’.

The next two days of the

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conference were packed withinteresting talks in a number ofparallel sessions which oftenconcluded with thought provokingdiscussions that highlighted keyregulatory,safetyandethicalissuesassociated with the use andapplications of nanomedicines.Much progress has recently beenmade, thanks to advancements inanalytical and imaging techniques(MRI,optoacousticsetc.–optimisedusing nanoparticles as a contrastmedium/probe) and its unrealisedpotential for the diagnosis andtreatment of disease is sure to beendorsedinthecomingdecade.

Conferences such as these provideavaluableplatformforearlycareer

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researcherstoactivelyengagewiththe nanomedical community, aswell as keeping up-to-date withadvancements in the field. Theopportunity to receive advice andguidance from members at theforefront of research in keydisciplines provides an excellenttool for development and self-reflection towards their entry andprogressinacademia.

Issue2;March2019

General membership-We parocularly welcomemembership applicaoons from the generalpublic,teachersandstudents.

• AccesstheSociety’swebsiteforbreakingnewsonnanomedicineanditsemergingapplicaoons• Downloadmaterialsforeducaoonalpurposes• Nomembershipfee.

Scien:ficmembershipisopentoanyoneacovelyengagedinnanomedicineresearchholdingahighereducaoondegreeinanyrelateddiscipline.

• Access academic and industrial updates on nanomedical therapies, diagnosoc tools,commercializaoonacovioes,IPissues,etc.• AqendSocietyconferences,seminarsandwebinars• Parocipateinanonlineforums• SponsorabstractsontheSociety’swebsite• Receiveinformaoononfundingopportunioes,scienoficconferencesandacovioesoftheSociety• Receivenetworkingbenefits,adverosingopportunioesandposongofposioons• ApplytobecomeamemberoftheSociety’sExecuoveGroup• Nomembershipfee

Ins:tu:onalmembershipisopentoinsotuoonswithaninterestinnanomedicine.

• DemonstrateanaffiliaoontotheSocietythroughtheuseofmutualhyperlinks• SendrepresentaoontoSocietyconferencesandseminars• Negooatesponsorshipandpartnershipopportunioes• Theannualmembershipfeeforinsotuoonalorcorporatemembersis£50perannum.ThiswillbeinvoiceddirectifthemembershipapplicaoonisapprovedbytheTrustees

BecomingamemberoftheBSNMisthebestwaytostayacrossallaspectsoftheSociety’sactivitiesandtheprogressionofthenanomedicinefieldingeneral.Threedistinctmembershipoptionsareavailable;General,Scientific and Institutional, all of which will allow you to stay up to date and informed on the Britishnanomedicinescene.Theapplicationprocessisquickandeasy,simplychoosethemembershipoptionthat’srightforyouandcompletetheonlineformatwww.britishsocietynanomedicine.org/membership.Forfurtherdetailsonthemembershipoptionsavailable,seebelow.

BSNM–BecomeaMember!

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The 4th annual meeting organisedby the British Society ofNanomedicine (BSNM)was held attheFrancisCrickInstituteinLondonthis year, bringing experts withinthe field together for two days ofopen talks anddiscussion, coveringseveral themes including:Nanoparticle Interactions withBiological Environments;Nanotechnologies for Detecting,Treating and Imaging Disease;Regenerative Medicine; andTranslation of Nanotechnology.Nearly 30 experts in the fielddelivered plenary talks, includingProf Terry Tetley (Imperial,London), Prof Maya Thanou (KCL,London), Dr Kate Ricketts (UCL,London), Dr ImadNaasani (Nanoco

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TechnologiesLtd,UK),andDrClairePatterson (Astra Zeneca, UK).Theannual conference is purposelydesigned to support Early CareerResearchers (ECRs), who deliveredtheirtalksduringthemainsessionsand also communicated theirfindings during daily postersessions.The BSNM is creating ananomedicine community thatconnects interdisciplinaryresearchers across the UK,increasing the visibility andtransparency of nanomedicine andenabling its translation into clinicalapplications.

As an early career researcher,conferences such as the ECRM,present a unique opportunity to

BSNMECRM2018Review-CaiAstely(ManchesterMetropolitanUniversity)

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enhance our understanding of keydevelopments in the field andoffers an occasion for engageddiscussion,thesharingof ideasandthe forging of relationships withlike-minded individuals within ourrespective areas of expertise.Despite the overwhelming feelingdue to thepresenceofhighprofilenanomedical specialists, thefriendly, welcoming andcomfortable atmosphere made fora pleasant and enjoyable day ofinteraction and open dialogue.Conforming to similar conferencestructures, the day consisted ofseveraltalksofmixedduration(20-60 minutes) followed by postersessions,allowingamixtureofearlycareer researchers (masters, PhD,

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post-doc), as well as establishedacademics, to discuss researchamongstourselvesaswellashavingtheopportunitytodiscussourworkwith leadingexperts in the field. Inadditiontothetechnicaladviceandexpertise available, a wealth ofadvice was on hand on how tonavigate the world of academia,addressing several concerns thatearly career researchers inevitablyexperience (career progressionetc.). This event was not onlyinformative, but enjoyable. Talkscovered a multitude of nano-related disciplines, ranging fromnovel drugdelivery (AndrésGarcía,UCL) to clinical applications at theforefront of scientific innovation(Alice Spadea, University ofManchester). Between sessions,BSNM trustees were invited toattend a guided-tour of the newly

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built,£700mFrancisCrick institute,founded by several leadinginvestigative research bodiesincluding;MedicalResearchCouncil(MRC), Cancer Research UK,Wellcome Trust, UCL, ImperialCollege London and King's CollegeLondon.Thetourincludedalookatthe state-of-the-art laboratories,social areas and facilities currentlyavailable, housing over 1,500scientistsandsupport staff,aswellas an update on future expansionplans and integration withneighbouringfacilities.

In addition to the beverages andappetisersavailablethroughouttheday, an evening drinks receptionallowed attendees to partake indiscussion over the day’sproceedings. To conclude theconference, a discussion panelwas

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hosted to highlight some of thecurrentissuesandlimitationsinthefield, with ample suggestions athandonhowtoaddressthemasweproceed into the future. The bestoral speakers and posterpresentations were awarded fortheir efforts with several prizespresented, greatly incentivisingearlycareerresearcherstoproduceresultsofthehighestquality.

The BSNM offers an excellentplatform for the integration andcommunication of industrial,academic and clinical research inthepublicforum.Ihopetohavetheopportunity to attend again nextyear and look forward to seeingwhat developments await in thefield.