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Researchers all over the world strive to improve the effectiveness of drugs. Emergent strategies such as "Targeted drug delivery" allow a more precise and localized administration of drugs. The aim of this method is to increase drug concentration in a specific location (e.g. a tumor); yet decreasing secondary effects on healthy tissues. This method reduces the frequency and dose of drug administration.

EPFL team’s goal this year is to suggest a drug delivery strategy. The key word of this project is “adaptability”. Our motivation is to explore a way of using E.Coli as a drug carrier in a way that is highly modular; thereby suiting several applications and possibilities of disease treatment.

Using the principles of synthetic biology we will bond nanoparticles containing a drug to E.coli using the biotin-streptavidin interaction. The engineered E.coli will target the site where the drug is required. Upon stimuli it starts to release a protease degrading the nanoparticles and hence delivers the drug.