Nanoporous materials (zeolites) and biomedical applications M/F

23 Feb 2024
Job Information

Organisation/Company

CNRS

Department

Direction des ressources humaines

Research Field

Other

Researcher Profile

First Stage Researcher (R1)

Country

France

Application Deadline

20 Mar 2024 - 23:59 (UTC)

Type of Contract

Other

Job Status

Full-time

Hours Per Week

35

Offer Starting Date

23 Feb 2024

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Not funded by an EU programme

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

Offer Description

The CNRS spearheads international research through, among other things, its ability to promote the emergence of breakthrough research through interdisciplinarity.
The proposed recruitment, based on two CNRS institutes, CNRS Biology and CNRS Chemistry, is fully in line with the CNRS mission to ensure the advancement of knowledge in all disciplinary fields, and here more particularly in the fields of innovation in chemistry for tomorrow's health applications. In its 2019-2023 contract of objectives, the CNRS has highlighted the growing demand for multifunctional materials, with optimized, combined or even extraordinary properties. The program proposed through this CPJ is perfectly in line with this objective. Indeed, with the advent of 5P medicine, offering (nano)-molecules that can be custom-modulated according to a patient's intrinsic characteristics is a major challenge, and only multidisciplinary research will enable us to achieve this goal.
As part of the France 2030 plan, the objectives are to position France among the leaders in a dozen strategic sectors such as energy, health of the future, decarbonization of industry, food and agriculture... The research program presented here is a perfect response to this health of the future objective, with the development of theranostic objects based on the research of the two CNRS laboratories (ISTCT and LCS) hosting this CPJ.

ISTCT seeks to better understand the pathophysiology of hypoxic tumors (brain-lung-brain metastases), to identify new therapeutic strategies targeting the tumor and its microenvironment, and to assess the effects of anti-cancer treatments including radiotherapy (RT) on healthy tissues and their protection, using in vivo imaging (MRI, PET/CT) in particular. For several years now, ISTCT has been working on a nano-particle approach targeting tumor cells, in partnership with the LCS laboratory. The LCS is an internationally renowned laboratory in the field of nano-zeolite synthesis. The functionalization of these nanoparticles enables them to be used as carriers for sensitizing agents targeting cancer cells.
Collaboration between the 2 partners through this CPJ will enable us to refine this nano-particle therapy strategy to combine various components (in particular by taking into account the tumor microenvironment) with the overall aim of offering a multimodal tumor targeting platform that can be adapted to suit individual needs. The CPJ will enable the laboratory to strengthen its original research into intelligent, customizable chemistry tools, in order to offer innovative therapeutic and imaging (theranostics) tools.

The main aim of the project is to custom-synthesize and validate in vivo new nanometric porous materials (zeolites) for biomedical applications. Nanozeolites are nanoparticles whose synthesis and ability to adsorb and deliver guest molecules can be perfectly controlled in a pH-defined physiological context. The project is focused on 1) the development and validation of new biocompatible nanoscale zeolites without organic materials, and 2) their use to improve the efficacy of conventional treatments for brain tumors or other resistant tumors. In particular, hypoxia-induced radiation and chemoresistance, as well as other phenomena associated with tumor growth such as inflammation, will be targeted. To date, no attention has been paid to structural features, i.e. the flexibility of nanozeolites for defined adsorption and delivery of guest molecules in a physiological context with controlled pH and, ultimately, elimination. The outstanding performance of nanozeolites and related porous materials in selective separation/capture processes is linked to the well-defined pores/cages, structural features, tunable chemical compositions and tailor-made acidity/basicity of zeolites.
Although there are over 250 known zeolites, the new challenge is to control properties through synthesis design to improve performance in terms of stability, selectivity and biocompatibility. Nanoparticles will also be used as imaging agents and monitored by multimodal imaging. These new compounds combined with the advanced characterization and vectorization of the molecules determined for biomedical applications constitute the ultimate interdisciplinary objective with the aim of providing a theranostic platform adaptable to the biomedical context.

The activities of the person recruited will be part of the teaching activities of the University of Caen-Normandie in the field of Health Chemistry-Biology. Depending on the profile, they may be developed in the chemistry or biology departments.

The CNRS is developing a strong policy in favor of open science. Open science consists of making research results "as accessible as possible and closed as necessary". As such, the CNRS aims to make 100% of the texts of publications resulting from the work of its laboratories accessible , in particular through deposit in HAL. The data produced must also be made available and reusable, except for specific restrictions. In addition, the guiding principles of individual evaluation have been revised in accordance with the DORA declaration, to be more qualitative and to take into account all facets of the researcher's profession.

The dissemination of the results will be done through world-class scientific productions: publications, patents, software... In addition, the results will be communicated to various targets such as scientific communities, media, decision makers, general public, schools, etc., with an adapted calendar. Specific tools may be developed such as websites, newsletters, meetings, international symposia, summer schools and conferences.

The relationship between science and society is now recognized as a full dimension of scientific activity. The project will develop this dimension in synergy with all the partners. The resulting research work will contribute to informing public decision-making. Participatory science initiatives may be initiated with actors from the project's socio-economic and cultural eco-system.

Requirements
Additional Information
Eligibility criteria

holders of a doctorate or a PhD or equivalent degree or applicants who have gained scientific. There is no restriction on the age or nationality of applicants. All CNRS positions are accessible to people with disabilities, with special arrangements for tests made necessary by the nature of the disability.

Website for additional job details

https://emploi.cnrs.fr/Offres/CPJ/CPJ-2024-015/Default.aspx

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available

1

Company/Institute

Direction des ressources humaines

Country

France

Geofield

Where to apply

Website

https://emploi.cnrs.fr/Candidat/Offre/CPJ-2024-015/Candidater.aspx

STATUS: EXPIRED