Startup Superbranche, a spin-off from the Institute of Physics and Chemistry of Materials (IPCMS) of Strasbourg was formed in May 2019 aſter 10 years of R&D on hybrid nanomaterials and is positioning itself as a specialized producer of nanomaterials for nanomedicine. Superbranche is developing a new generation of functionalized metallic oxide nanoparticles that are designed to facilitate early diagnosis of and targeted therapy for cancer.
Nanomedicine uses nanoparticles to better target tumor cells and limit side effects from chemotherapy. However, two major difficulties still need to be overcome: controlling the particle size so that they can be injected intravenously, and their “vectorization.” This is the ability to graft molecules of biological value that will enable nanoparticles to penetrate the target cells accurately. To overcome these two pitfalls, two Strasbourg researchers, Delphine Felder-Flesch, research director at the Institute of Physics and Materials Science (IPCMS), and Sylvie Begin-Colin, professor at the University of Strasbourg and director of the European School of Chemistry, Polymers and Materials (EPCM) propose using dendritic and magnetic nanoparticles. They founded the start-up Superbranche to commercialize these materials, the results of a ten-year research project.
A spin-off from the IPCMS, Superbranche was formed in May 2019 after 10 years of R&D on hybrid nanomaterials used in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. The Alsace Region, the Cancéropole Grand Est, the University of Strasbourg, as well as the French National Agency for Research (ANR), the National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) and the National Cancer Institute (INCA) and also the European Union, through its 2020 program, have invested $7 million in this new generation of nanomaterials.
Researchers from the CNRS and the University of Strasbourg (France) have critically surveyed the most promising strategies based on the applications of graphene-related materials reported in the literature to fight against viral pandemics such as COVID-19. This Perspective has been published in Advanced Materials.
Owing to their unique chemical and physical properties, graphene-related materials, such as graphene, graphene oxide and reduced graphene oxide, have been widely investigated in the last 15 years, and hold a real potential for applications in optoelectronics, energy generation and storage, (bio)chemical sensing, civil engineering, aeronautics, water purification, biomedicine, etc.
In this Perspective, the researchers, led by the bioorganic chemist Alberto Bianco (CNRS) and the physical chemist Paolo Samorì (University of Strasbourg and CNRS), showcase and detail the most relevant applications based on graphene-related materials described in the literature that can be envisaged to fight viral pandemics, with a strong focus on the impact of chemical functionalization, deposition techniques, and integration into devices and surface coatings.
In particular, the exploitation of the antiviral activity of suitably functionalized graphene-related materials for drug delivery, development of smart surfaces and coatings, and (bio)sensing is discussed. This critical analysis places graphene-related materials as powerful allies to combat against SARS-CoV-2 virus as well as other emerging infectious diseases.
Graphene: A Disruptive Opportunity for COVID-19 and Future Pandemics?
Giacomo Reina, Daniel Iglesias, Paolo Samorì & Alberto Bianco
Advanced Materials, 2021, 33, 2007847
DOI : 10.1002/adma.202007847
