I3PT receives a grant from La Marató to develop an innovative treatment against pneumonia

• The Carri-Air project, led by researcher Aina Areny, proposes a new therapeutic strategy based on nanocapsules to improve treatment and pulmonary recovery in patients with pneumonia. 

The researcher at the Parc Taulí Research and Innovation Institute (I3PT) Aina Areny has been one of the beneficiaries of the scholarships of The 3Cat Marathon both 2024, dedicated to the research into respiratory diseases, pathologies that affect the lungs, airways and all the organs and tissues necessary for breathing, and which are increasingly prevalent in the population due to environmental factors, such as pollution, and social factors, such as increased life expectancy. 

The selected project, called “Transforming pneumonia treatment: nanocarriers with miRNAs for immunomodulation and lung repair (Carri-Air)”, will receive funding of 398.836 euros and will be carried out in collaboration with the Institute of Materials Science of Barcelona (ICMAB-CSIC) and the Germans Trias i Pujol Health Sciences Research Institute (IGTP), under the coordination of the I3PT.  

Nanocapsules to fight pneumonia 

La pneumonia is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the world, with more than 344 million cases and 2,2 million deaths annually, according to data from the Global Burden of Diseases 2021. In addition, it can often lead to Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), a serious complication that requires intensive care. 

The current treatments, based on antibiotics, antivirals or supportive therapies, have important limitations, such as antimicrobial resistance and the lack of therapies for the regeneration of damaged lung tissue. 

Faced with this scenario, the project Carri-Air proposes an innovative therapeutic strategy based on biodegradable nanocapsules (PLGA) that allow the delivery of three microRNAs (miRNAs) with immunomodulatory and regenerative properties directly to the lungs through inhalation. These nanocapsules, dubbed “nanocapsules for pneumonia” (N4P), seek to restore immune balance, promote the elimination of pathogens and stimulate lung tissue repair. 

Research with a translational perspective 

The project will validate the effectiveness of N4P through in vitro, in vivo (preclinical models) and ex vivo (human samples) studies in different types of pneumonia, both bacterial and viralIn addition, a regulatory strategy will also be established to facilitate its future clinical translation. 

“Our goal is offer an effective alternative to current pneumonia treatments, reducing hospital stay, dependence on mechanical ventilation and complications arising from antimicrobial resistance", explains researcher Aina Areny, who will also coordinate the I3PT research team formed by Anthony Artigas, Marta Camprubí i Elena Campaign.