Job Information
- Organisation/Company: ICPEES
- Department: Institut de Chimie et Procédés pour l'Ennergie, l'Environnement et la Santé
Offer Description
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) leads to a buildup of toxins in patients, causing metabolic disturbances due to the inability of the diseased kidneys to eliminate them properly. Approximately 10% of the European population is affected, and a growing number of patients progress to the most severe stage, end-stage renal disease (ESRD), which requires treatment with dialysis and/or transplantation. Dialysis, which replaces kidney function, can be performed via hemodialysis (HD) using extracorporeal circulation through a filter, or via peritoneal dialysis (PD), in which toxins are removed through a natural membrane—the peritoneum—in contact with a fluid in the abdomen called dialysate.
As the population ages, chronic kidney disease (CKD) is becoming one of the leading causes of death: by 2030, it will be the fifth leading cause of death, and hemodialysis units will no longer be able to provide dialysis for such a large number of patients. PD is therefore an alternative that requires fewer healthcare professionals, minimal facility space (streamlined organization), and less transportation (an eco-friendly approach and reduced emissions): economically, it remains less costly overall than HD.
Indeed, PD offers numerous advantages: it is performed at home, thereby providing a good quality of life, and is particularly well-suited for young children and the elderly. However, PD does not effectively remove all toxins, particularly phosphate, and hyperphosphatemia is common among patients. Nicknamed “the silent killer,” hyperphosphatemia causes vascular calcifications and bone abnormalities, contributing to significantly higher cardiovascular mortality in these patients. Innovative therapeutic approaches that improve phosphate chelation in PD are therefore needed.
We have developed a DP dialysate formulation containing iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs)—which are known for their high affinity for phosphates and are eco-designed—to enhance phosphate uptake by increasing their diffusion from blood to dialysate through binding to the IONPs. Through several in vitro proof-of-concept studies, we have demonstrated an increase in phosphate uptake (patent pending). In vivo proof-of-concept studies are now needed to establish the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of our medical device.
The project’s objectives are therefore to conduct experiments ranging from large-scale production of IONPs coated with a surfactant to in vivo toxicity studies and validation of the innovation in animals, in order to demonstrate that the formulation of a dialysate containing an IONP-based phosphate nanoadsorbent shows promise for improving phosphate removal during PD treatment. Experiments using a device that mimics peritoneal dialysis will also be conducted to verify whether other toxins and essential elements are also captured by this new dialysate.
Where to apply
E-mail: sylvie.begin@unistra.fr
Requirements
Research Field
Chemistry » Inorganic chemistry
Education Level
PhD or equivalent
Skills/Qualifications
- Synthesis and characterization of iron oxide nanoparticles
- Functionnalisation of iron oxide nanoparticles
- Scaling-up of functionalized iron oxide nanoparticles synthesis methods
- Purification of suspensions of functionalized nanoparticles
- Skills in analytical sciences (analysis of toxins and phosphates)
- Knowledge in biology: cytotoxicity, cell cultures
Specific Requirements
- Synthesis and structural and colloidal characterization of surfactant-coated iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) exhibiting high colloidal stability in the dialysate.
- Larger-scale production and purification of functionalized IONPs
- Studies on the extraction of toxins and essential elements using this new dialysate in a device simulating PD.
- Preparation of dialysates with and without nanoparticles for experiments on big animals
- Monitoring of animal experiments
- Drafting reports and preparing presentations on the results obtained every two weeks
Languages
ENGLISH
Level: Excellent
Years of Research Experience
1 - 4
Additional Information
Work Location(s)
- Number of offers available: 1
- Company/Institute: ICPEES UMR 7515 CNRS UNISTRA
- Country: France
- State/Province: --- Select One ---
- City: Strasbourg
- Postal Code: 67087
- Street: 25, rue Becquerel,
Contact
- State/Province: --- Select One ---
- City: Strasbourg
- Website: https://icpees.unistra.fr/
- Street: 25, rue Becquerel,
- Postal Code: 67087
- E-Mail: sylvie.begin@unistra.fr
- Phone: 0633934065
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