TheraGlio

TheraGlio | developing theranostics for gliomas

TheraGlio aims at developing combined imaging technologies for diagnostic and tailored therapeutic interventions for patients bearing MGs. This will be carried out by creating a novel multimodal imaging system, which will employ new generation MBs that can simultaneously act as contrast agent for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), intra-operative Contrast-Enhanced US Imaging (CEUS) and intra-operative fluorescence-guided microscopic resection of MG. Moreover,newly generated MBs will be loaded with specific targeting molecules and chemotherapeutics for localized release. The specific objectives of the project will be: 1) Designing a new neurosurgical navigation system to simultaneously acquire intra- operative US and operative-microscope images, and match them with the pre-operative MRI scans in real-time. 2) Manufacturing and preclinical assessment of stability, toxicity and efficacy of lab-scale and clinical-grade GMP certified multimodal lipidic MBs as an intra-operative neuronavigation tool. 3) Manufacturing and physical characterization of polymeric (bio-inert or biodegradable),multifunctional MBs, which will be functionalized for MRI, US and fluorescence microscopic visualization. 4) Development of multifunctional drug-loaded-nanoparticle equipped biodegradable MBs as drug delivery platform. 5) Clinical assessment of feasibility, toxicity, and efficacy of multimodal modified lipidstabilized MBs for real-time MR/US image/fluorescence guided surgery using an integrated neuronavigation platform in recurrent GBMs.