Distinguished iNANO Lecture: Nanoparticles for Drug Targeting: Current Status and Future

Professor Gert Storm, Pharmaceutics, University of Utrecht, the Netherlands

Nanoparticles for Drug Targeting: Current Status and Future

One most active sector of research within the field of nanomedicine has been the design of nanoparticulate pharmaceuticals for targeted drug delivery. In fact, novel and established nanoparticle systems continue to flourish in the research laboratory.  However, the number of  such systems that have been approved for the treatment of patients is still limited. Examples are Caelyx/Doxil (doxorubicin), Myocet (doxorubicin), DaunoXome (daunorubicin), Marqibo (vincristine), Onyvide (irinotecan), Onco-TCS (vincristine), Vyxeos (cytarabine and daunorubicin), Arikayce (amikacin) and Onpattro (transthyretin-directed siRNA). While these examples illustrate that significant advances have been made over the years in making nanoparticulate nanomedicines a clinical reality, there is nevertheless growing sceptism in the scientific literature regarding the future and clinical applicability of such targeted nanopharmaceuticals. In this presentation, I will discuss the arguments raised to justify this negative attitude as well as my different view on the current status and future of the use of nanoparticles for drug targeting.

Gert Storm, professor Targeted Drug Delivery at the Department of Pharmaceutics (80% employment), obtained his Ph.D. degree in 1987 at the Utrecht University. In 1988-1989, he was a visiting scientist at Liposome Technology Inc. in Menlo Park, USA, and visiting assistant professor at the School of Pharmacy, UCSF, San Francisco. In 1990-1991, he became senior research scientist at Pharma Bio-Research Consultancy B.V. in Zuidlaren, The Netherlands. During this period he contributed to the design, co-ordination and evaluation of clinical pharmacological studies. In September 1991 he took up his position at the Utrecht University. He is honorary professor (Biomacromolecular Drug Delivery) at the University of Copenhagen. From 2012 on, he is also professor (Targeted Therapeutics) at the MIRA institute of the University of Twente (20% employment).

Host: Associate Professor Ken Howard, Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center, AU

Coffee, tea and bread will be served from 10:00 in front of the auditorium.