BRAIN Project

BRAIN opens new routes for the valorization of cardoon biomass by providing a versatile platform of rationally designed materials applicable to the Intranasal (IN) delivery of bioactive molecules. The following objectives will be pursued: i) The rational design and sustainable production of Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) polymers through the valorization of different parts of cardoon biomass, and their chemo-enzymatic functionalization; ii) The evaluation of the biological activity of cardoon extracts in the field of neurodevelopmental diseases; iii) The investigation of the effective molecules and their synergic action on biological targets by experimental and bioinformatics methods; iv) The formulation of mucoadhesive systems based on the biomass-derived polymers, properly functionalized for the IN delivery of bioactive compounds. Overall, the project provides the frame for the application of PHA into an innovative field and the repurposing of the bioactive compounds towards still unexplored therapeutic fields. The consortium: - Cinzia Pezzella, Principal Investigator, Federico II University, Napoli - Lucia Gardossi, Enrico Tongiorgi, Fioretta Asaro, University of Trieste - Ovidio Catanzano, CNR, Istituto per i Polimeri, Compositi e Biomateriali (IPCB) The multidisciplinary knowledge chain will enable the full valorization of the cardoon biomass according to a cascade approach, by addressing the highest value products obtainable from the cardoon. This will contribute, within the frame of a biorefinery platform already existing in Italy, to the strengthening of a sustainable Italian Bioeconomy for different Italian territories.