RESEARCH
Most projects running in the lab focus on the interaction of nanosized materials and biological systems. The field of nanomedicine is regarded with high expectations, and is seen as a key future medical discipline, owing to the exiting and unique properties that many nanomaterials possess. The full exploitation of the benefits of these nanomaterials can however only be reached if more detailed information is available on how these nanomaterials behave in the complex human physiology. Currently, the main projects concern the following topics:
Targeted delivery of nanomaterials (NMs)
Targeted delivery remains a major hurdle in the field, where we aim to exploit intrinsic properties of particular cellular components to use them as natural delivery vehicles for the nanomaterials.
Targeted therapy
Various NMs can affect cell physiology through different mechanisms. As our understanding of both cancer cell biology and bio-nano interactions increases, our aim is to exploit the intrinsic properties of particular nanoformulations as a novel type of therapy against specific patho-physiological conditions.
Biological understanding of NMs
Using mainly optical imaging methods, we aim to understand how NMs behave when they are exposed to either cultured cells or in preclinical animal models and how this understanding can be exploited to enhance the use of the nanomaterials as therapeutics or imaging contrast agents.
Funding
Our lab received several types of funding from multiple organizations. More information on the specific type of funding for research projects and the ERC grant can be found here:
Selected Publications
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De Schepper S, Verheijden S, Aguilera-Lizarraga J, Viola MF, Boesmans W, Stakenborg N, Voytyuk I, Smidt I, Boeckx B, Dierckx de Casterlé I, Baekelandt V, Gonzalez Dominguez E, Mack M, Depoortere I, De Strooper B, Sprangers B, Himmelreich U, Soenen S, Guilliams M, Vanden Berghe P, Jones E, Lambrechts D, Boeckxstaens G. (2018) Self-Maintaining Gut Macrophages Are Essential for Intestinal Homeostasis. Cell, doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2018.07.048.
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Manshian BB, Poelmans J, Saini S, Pokhrel S, Grez JJ, Himmelreich U, Mädler L, Soenen SJ. (2018) Nanoparticle-induced inflammation can increase tumor malignancy. Acta Biomaterialia, 68, 99-112.
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Manshian BB, Jimenez J, Himmelreich U, Soenen SJ. (2017) Personalized medicine and follow-up of therapeutic delivery through exploitation of quantum dot toxicity. Biomaterials, 127, 1-12.
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Manshian BB, Pokhrel S, Himmelreich U, Tämm K, Sikk L, Fernandez A, Rallo R, Tamm T, Mädler L, Soenen SJ. (2017) In silico design of optimal dissolution kinetics of Fe-doped ZnO nanoparticles results in cancer-specific toxicity in a preclinical rodent model. Advanced Healthcare Materials, doi: 10.1002/adhm.201601379.
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Manshian BB, Himmelreich U, Soenen SJ. (2017) Standard cellular testing conditions generate an exaggerated nanoparticle cytotoxicity profile. Chemical Research in Toxicology, 30, 595-603.
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Manshian BB, Jimenez J, Himmelreich U, Soenen SJ. (2017) Presence of an immune system increases anti-tumor effect of Ag nanoparticle treated mice. Advanced Healthcare Materials, DOI: 10.1002/adhm.201601099.
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Manshian BB, Abdelmonem AM, Kantner K, Pelaz B, Klapper M, Tironi CN, Parak WJ, Himmelreich U, Soenen SJ (2016) Evaluation of quantum dot cytotoxicity: Interpretation of nanoparticle concentrations versus intracellular nanoparticle numbers. Nanotoxicology, 10, 1318-1328.
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Manshian BB, Pfeiffer C, Pelaz B, Heimerl T, Gallego M, Moller M, del Pino P, Himmelreich U, Parak WJ, Soenen SJ. (2015) High-content imaging and gene expression approaches to unravel the effect of surface functionality on cellular interactions of silver nanoparticles. ACS Nano, 10431-10444.
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Manshian BB, Munck S, Agostinis P, Himmelreich U, Soenen SJ. (2015) High content analysis at single cell level identifies different cellular responses dependent on nanomaterial concentrations. Scientific Reports, 13890.
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Soenen SJ, Rejman J, Parak WJ, Manshian B. (2015) The (intra)cellular stability of inorganic nanoparticles: Effects on cytotoxicity and particle functionality. Chemical Reviews, 2109-2135.
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Manshian BB, Moyano DF, Corthout N, Munck S, Himmelreich U, Rotello VM, Soenen SJ. (2014) High-content imaging and gene expression analysis of cell-nanomaterial interaction. Biomaterials, 35, 9941-9950.
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Peynshaert K, Manshian BB, Joris F, De Smedt SC, Braeckmans K, Soenen SJ. (2014) Exploiting intrinsic nanoparticle toxicity: the pros and cons of nanoparticle-induced autophagy in biomedical research. Chemical Reviews, 114, 7581-7609.
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Joris F, Peynshaert K, De Smedt SC, Braeckmans K, Soenen SJ. (2013) Assessing nanoparticle toxicity in cell-based assays: Influence of cell culture parameters and optimized models for bridging the in vitro-in vivo gap. Chemical Society Reviews 42, 8339-8359.
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Soenen SJ, Rivera-Gil P, Montenegro JM, Parak WJ, De Smedt SC, Braeckmans K. (2011) Cellular toxicity of inorganic nanoparticles: Common aspects and guidelines for improved nanotoxicity evaluation. Nano Today 6, 446-465.