Fighting blindness. Nano- and microdevices to treat retinal neurodegenerative diseases./Innoftal Research Group

Professor of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology, Corresponding Member of the Royal Academy of Pharmacy, and Full Member of the Royal Academy of Doctors (medal no. 16), I combine my teaching activity in the Department of Pharmaceutics and Food Technology (Faculty of Pharmacy at the University Complutense of Madrid, Spain) with a leading of a consolidated multidisciplinary research group, comprised of pharmacists, ophthalmologists, and veterinarians: "Innovation, Therapy, and Pharmaceutical Development in Ophthalmology" (InnOftal). Established in 2004, the group has been recognized as "excellent" in its most recent evaluation by the Spanish National Agency for Evaluation and Foresight (ANEP).Innoftal team members actively participate in the research groups "Pharmaceutical Innovation in Ophthalmology" (led by R. Herrero Vanrell) and "Research in Ocular Pathology and Visual Pathways" (led by J. García Feijóo) at the San Carlos Clinical Hospital Health Research Institute.
My research activity has been marked by a multidisciplinary nature that combines ophthalmology and pharmacy, with ongoing participation in 26 research projects (25 as PI) Over the past 10 years, I have supervised four international projects: PANOPTES, RISE 3D-NEONET, and two MSCA-ITN projects: EDEN and ORBITAL. Innoftal members have also contributed to over 20 National R&D&I Plan projects, including FIS, ISCIII Networks, and Retos (MAT) initiatives. Six team members were also involved in the REACT-EU project (ANTICIPA-CM) under the Madrid Operational Program 2014-2020, aimed at addressing the COVID-19 crisis.
In terms of private funding, the team has participated in projects funded by pharmaceutical laboratories, including both Article 83 and 60 contracts, and clinical trials. These resources have enabled the team to equip its research laboratory with cutting-edge technology and expand its workforce by hiring dedicated researchers.
Our team combines advanced technology with multidisciplinary expertise to push the boundaries of current ophthalmic care. We provide a dynamic and stimulating research environment, supported by state-of-the-art facilities and a strong commitment to innovation and academic excellence.

The 2020 World Health Organization report lists common eye conditions that can cause blindness. These include posterior segment neurodegenerative diseases such as diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and glaucoma, as the leading causes of irreversible blindness worldwide.
Although there is currently no curative treatment for the changes that occur in retinal tissues in these pathologies, their progression can be delayed with early diagnosis and novel therapeutic tools. Within pharmacological therapy, the antiangiogenic drugs currently approved for the treatment of neovascularization in proliferative diabetic retinopathy and AMD are ranibizumab, aflibercept, and brolucizumab. Anti-inflammatory agents can also be also employed. All of them are administered through intraocular injections. By the contrary, in glaucoma treatment, the main goal is to reduce and control IOP, with hypotensive eye drops being the first step in therapy.
The chronicity of neurodegenerative retinal pathologies requires treatments that assure effective concentrations of the pharmacological agent at the site of action maintained for long periods of time.
Intravitreal injections provide direct administration of the active ingredient in an area close to the site of action. However, the short half-life of the active substance requires successive administrations. Despite the advantages of administering the drug at or near retinal tissues, intraocular injections are poorly tolerated by patients and are associated with side effects such as bleeding, retinal detachment, endophthalmitis, and cataracts. Furthermore, the risk of side effects associated to injections increases with the number of interventions.
Considering the mechanisms of neurodegeneration, they include, among others, excitotoxicity, oxidative stress, inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and protein misfolding and aggregation. Taking these processes altogether, neuroprotective treatment can address various therapeutic targets.
Regardless of their etiology, the neurodegenerative pathologies have in common their multifactorial nature. Pathophysiological studies have shown that, once neuronal death begins, a cascade of pro-inflammatory and pro-apoptotic substances is produced, which in turn leads to the death of adjacent neurons in what is known as secondary degeneration. Neuroprotection, therefore, focuses on increasing the survival of damaged neuronal cells in both primary and secondary degeneration processes.
Controlled-release systems are emerging as a highly interesting therapeutic tools for the treatment of neurodegenerative pathologies of the posterior segment, including neovascularization, inflammation, and intraocular pressure control. A wide range of controlled-release systems is under development. These include a broad of minimally invasive formulations for topical administration such as bioadhesive polymers, gel-forming drops and other nanosystems such as nanoparticles, liposomes, niosomes, dendrimers, microemulsions, and nanoemulsions, and intravitreal devices such as implants, and formulations in the micro- and nano range.
The location of the target tissue in the eye, as well as the type of disease being treated, will determine the most appropriate route of administration and system. If topical administration is used, as in the case of hypotensive treatment for glaucoma, the objective is to increase the bioavailability of antiglaucoma agents and achieve a lower number of administrations. It is always important to keep in mind that formulations must be well tolerated by the ocular surface and maintain homeostasis of the precorneal film.
Undoubtedly, one of the most important challenges in ophthalmic therapy is reducing the number of invasive procedures, which can be achieved using injectable controlled-release systems. The most suitable devices for extended release are implants and microparticles, which can release encapsulated drugs for months, maintaining effective levels of the therapeutic molecule with a single administration of the preparation. However, the release time for nanosystems is more limited due to their greater relative surface area. Nanodevices are used when the objective is to increase the penetration of the active ingredient or selectively directed and concentrated on the target site.

If you are a researcher who wants to be at the cutting edge of knowledge in the development of new controlled release systems for ocular administration join this forefront MSCA project.
As a postdoctoral researcher you will gain skills in transferable ophthalmic drug delivery systems that will prepare you for both academia and industry.

We have extensive experience working with Marie Curie students, having participated in four H2020 projects to date.
We are looking for motivated individuals with a strong background in pharmaceutical sciences, biomedical research, or biotechnology, particularly those with experience in drug delivery systems, biodegradable materials, or ophthalmology-related research. Ideal candidates should have:
• Hands-on experience in formulation development, including nano- and microparticles or other controlled drug delivery systems.
• Knowledge of cell culture techniques, in vitro models, or preclinical evaluation relevant to ophthalmic treatments.
• Experience in polymer chemistry, biomaterials, or tissue engineering is highly valued.
• Strong analytical skills and experience with characterization techniques such as microscopy, spectroscopy, or drug release profiling by ELISA or HPLC.
• Proven ability to work in multidisciplinary environments and contribute to collaborative research projects.

Interested fellows are required to submit the following documents for evaluation:
Curriculum Vitae (CV), letter of motivation and reference letter (optional but recommended).
Applicants with experience in European research projects, scientific writing, or grant applications are encouraged to highlight these skills in their application.