ORACLE

GOALS

Hypoxia is a hallmark of poorly vascularized pathological tissues and severely limits the efficacy of conventional therapies such as chemotherapy and photodynamic therapy (PDT), both of which depend on oxygen availability and functional cellular metabolism.

The ORACLE project aims to develop an innovative cyclodextrin-polymer (CDP) nanoplatform capable of overcoming hypoxia-related therapeutic resistance through the co-delivery of multiple orthogonal agents. The designed nanoparticles will integrate: i) oxygen-releasing agents (ORAs) acting as controllable oxygen reservoirs activated by external stimuli such as light or ultrasounds; ii) photosensitizers enabling PDT combined with sonodynamic (SDT) or photothermal therapy (PTT); and iii) clinically approved chemotherapeutic drugs. Thanks to the supramolecular properties and biocompatibility of CDPs, the system is expected to provide controlled delivery, enhanced therapeutic synergy and improved treatment efficacy in hypoxic solid tumors, including breast cancer and osteosarcoma.

ORACLE ultimately proposes a versatile strategy to restore and potentiate oxygen-dependent clinical therapies.