Prof. Dr. Paola Luciani’s Research Projects

Over the years Prof. Dr. Paola Luciani focused her research on the design and characterization of liposomes as drug delivery system (protein, nucleic acids, drugs). She has expertise in designing contrast agents for non-invasive fluorescence imaging of lymphatic and vascular system in inflammation and cancer, as well as selectively sensing reactive oxygen species.

Prof. Luciani's research is characterized by a multidisciplinary approach aimed at developing lipid-based tools for diagnostic molecular imaging and for targeted therapy of fibrotic diseases. Another research focus is understanding the molecular mechanisms and the interecellular communication underlying the oral administration of lipid-based formulations and the effect of oxidative stress on phospholipids as nutraceuticals. More recently Prof. Luciani started to explore the field of site-specific sustained release and her research groups actively works on the development of novel manufacturing processes for lipid-based depots as an alternative to current technologies for hydrophilic drugs and biomacromolecules.

  • Oral phospholipids and liver fibrosis: a molecular perspective

    Chronic liver diseases cover a spectrum of pathologies headed by a process that involves a progressive destruction and regeneration of liver functional parts leading to fibrosis and then cirrhosis. Oral dosage forms can help to increase patient compliance significantly improving the course of such chronic disorders and lipid-based oral medications have been shown to be suitable candidates. The aim of this project is to develop and characterize novel oral lipid-based formulations for chronic liver pathologies by means of validated and optimized in vitromodels. In order to select the most efficient excipients for novel phospholipid-based antifibrotic therapies, the role of single lipids is investigated by the screening of lipid components and thorough quantitative and qualitative analyses of their effect are performed at a molecular and cellular level.

  • Exploring novel non-invasive targeted diagnostic possibilities for liver fibrosis

    The possibility of an early diagnosis to detect the evolution of liver disease to liver fibrosis remains a Holy Grail in hepatology. The lack of accurate, reproducible, and easily applicable methods for the assessment of hepatic fibrosis has been the major limitation for both the clinical management and research in liver diseases. Liver biopsy remains the gold standard to reach the certainty of diagnosis. The nature of the procedure, however, creates a quest for a less invasive diagnostic modality through which the evolution of the disease and the effectiveness of the anti-fibrotic therapies could be followed. The identification of biomarkers specific for enzymes responsible for the early alterations of liver microstructure, combined with a non-invasive optical imaging modality, could guide the clinicians towards a timely therapeutic strategy. The biomarkers, indeed, could be also used as a tool to achieve a highly specific treatment in the fibrosis-affected areas in the liver. Liposomes represent an optimal platform to combine diagnostic accuracy and therapeutic efficiency. In this research project emphasis is placed on the development and physicochemical characterization as well as on the use of in vitrocell culture to test targeted liposomes designed to improve management strategies of this chronic fibro-proliferative disease.

  • Lipid-based therapeutics for liver fibrosis and their impact on extracellular vesicles

    Liver fibrosis is the wound-healing response to chronic hepatic insults, often leading to the loss of organ function. It is characterized by the excessive deposition of scar tissue, a process driven by activated hepatic stellate cells (HSC). The broader aim of our research is to assess the impact of lipid-based therapeutics on extracellular vesicles isolated from hepatic cell lines, used as an in vitromodel for the progression of liver fibrosis.

    This project is financially supported by the Phospholipid Research Center.

  • Synergistic oral treatment of chronic liver pathologies

    Poor solubilityin waterand poor dissolution in the GI fluids are thelimiting factorsfor the in vivo bioavailability of numerous drug candidates administered orally. Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) as poorly solublebile acid increasingly used in therapy of cholestatic liver diseases isavailable on the market in the form of solid dosage forms. However, commercial liquid formulations of UDCA for patients who cannot swallow capsules or tablets, are still missing. The aim of this study is development and characterisation of liquid formulation of UDCA in the form of nanostructured dispersions based on hepatoprotective phospholipids. Following complete physico-chemical characterizations the nanocarriers will be tested for their antifibrogenic properties in vitro.

  • Development of a phospholipid-based depot technology for sustained drug release

    The topic of this project is the development of a novel phospholipid-based depot formulation for sustained release of drugs. The main principle of the depot building is the aggregation of liposomes encapsulating a model drug. Besides the screening of appropriate formulations and the physico-chemical characterisation of the aggregates, the emphasis is the investigation of different encapsulation methods and following release studies. Another focus is the development of a novel manufacturing process and application system for this depot formulation compared to existing market products.

    This project is financially supported by the Phospholipid Research Center.

    For more information:

    Rahnfeld L, Thamm J, Steiniger F, van Hoogevest P, Luciani P*. Study on the in situaggregation of liposomes with negatively charged phospholipids for use as injectable depot formulation. Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces. (2018) doi: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2018.02.023.