DOCTORAL STUDENT POSITION (Early Stage Researcher)

The Doctoral Course of Molecular
Sciences of  the University of Padova invites applications for the OCUTHER
- European Training Network within Marie Sklodowska Curie Programme:

DOCTORAL STUDENT POSITION
(Early Stage Researcher 10: Supramolecular bioconjugates for ocular delivery)

To date there is an unmet need
of effective drug delivery systems for the retina targeting that can replace
repeated and invasive intravitreal injections currently used for the treatment
of several invalidating ocular diseases.  In this regard, UNIPD intends to
design and develop novel suparamolecular systems, namely drug-polymer
bioconjugates, with specific biopharmaceutical features. A few drug-polymer
conjugates will be developed by using different polymers, different
architectures and different conjugation chemistries in order to identify the
key factors that control the biopharmaceutical behavior of the system and
affect the therapeutic performance in the treatment of the eye diseases.
Bioconjugates will be characterized by an array of analytical tools (NMR, IR,
mass spectrometry, DLS, viscosimetry). The biopharmaceutical profile of the
bioconjugates will be investigated to assess drug release and intracellular
drug delivery in vitro. The PhD thesis project will allow for understanding the
molecular requirements for nanocarriers  diffusivity and cell interfacing
features in the retinal environment.

Required background: MSc degree in an appropriate field of science (e.g. medicinal chemistry,
chemistry, material sciences, polymer chemistry, advanced drug delivery).

The Advanced Drug Delivery
research unit led by Paolo Caliceti and Stefano Salmaso at the Department of
Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences of the University of Padova, Italy,
offers a multi-disciplinary training program in the field of pharmaceutical
sciences. The group is recognized in the field of advanced and responsive drug
delivery systems both for small drugs and therapeutic macromolecules
(oligonucleotides and proteins). The research is aimed at developing new novel
supramolecular  nanomedicines designed for spatially and timely controlled
drug delivery, namely  functional colloidal carriers for ocular drug
delivery. Research activity in the group involves the design and synthesis of
functional components, set-up of novel bioconjugation procedures, physical and
chemical combination of the functional materials into colloidal carriers
(typically liposomes and micelles) to tailor their behavior within the
microenvironment. The  physico-chemical profiling, biopharmaceutical
features and biological performance of the novel formulations are characterized
by means of a variety of analytical technologies. The OCUTHER network will
provide training across a wide range of disciplines including biology,
pharmacology, chemistry, drug delivery, nanopharmacy and ophthalmology,
ensuring interdisciplinary and inter-sectorial learning experience. The
candidate selected for the Initial Training Network (ITN) project OCUTHER will
be enrolled in the Molecular Sciences doctoral program of the University of Padova.
The PhD program includes secondments in the laboratories of OCUTHER partners.