INVESTIGADOR RESPONSÁVEL
Nome do Investigador Responsável (IR) do projeto: Hugo Santos
Contacto IR: hms14862@fct.unl.pt
Departmento: Departamento de Química (DQ)
UID: LAQV
FINANCIAMENTO
Tipo de Financiamento: Público
Entidade Financiadora: Internacional
Referência da Call: HORIZON-MSCA-2025-SE-01 (Marie Sklowdowska Curie Action – Staff Exchange)
Referência: 101299346
Entidade proponente: CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE
Montante total do projeto: 1 412 820 euros
Montante total para a NOVA.id: 150 300 euros
Taxa de financiamento: 100%
PROJETO
Acrónimo: HEALSAFE
Título do Projeto: Health-Active Responsive Materials: Development, Stability, Safety, and Fate Evaluation in Complex Biological Media
Data de início: 1/09/2026
Data de fim: 1/09/2030
Breve descrição do projeto:
Pathological tissues, such as chronic wounds, carcinogenic burns, and solid tumors, are characterized by a profoundly remodeled extracellular matrix (ECM) that poses a physical barrier to nanomedicine penetration. These environments are further complicated by hostile microconditions, including oxidative stress, acidic pH, enzymatic dysregulation, and chronic inflammation, all of which hinder healing and reduce therapeutic efficacy. Overcoming the formulation challenges and navigating the physiological and immunological barriers within these diseased microenvironments represents a defining frontier for next-generation nanotherapeutics. HEALSAFE pioneers the development of dynamic, adaptive materials that emulate the responsiveness and intelligence of living tissues. With a strong translational focus and rigorous preclinical validation, HEALSAFE is intended to enhance workforce training and readiness for the era of personalized, responsive medicine. Key objectives include: (i) Design and synthesis of a modular library of microenvironment-responsive materials and hybrid systems with tunable physicochemical properties for targeted therapeutic applications; (ii) Development and optimization of encapsulation and controlled release mechanisms tailored to complex biological environments; (iii) Evaluation of biocompatibility, safety, and cellular interactions using advanced in vitro 2D and 3D tissue models; (iv) Preclinical demonstration of therapeutic efficacy, biodistribution, and safety in validated in vivo models of wound healing and other relevant pathological conditions; (v) Promotion of international and transdisciplinary collaboration, inter-sectoral knowledge exchange, and capacity building through targeted dissemination and training initiatives. By integrating novel selfassembled stimuli-responsive biomaterials with precision medicine strategies, HEALSAFE sets the stage for transformative advances in nanotherapeutic design and clinical translation...
