Studies on the permeability of biological barriers are essential for both the development of drug administration systems and toxicological tests. Unfortunately, the in vitro systems presently available – from the usual 2D cell monoculture to the more innovative 3D co-cultures – are still unsuitable to mimic efficiently the complex function of biological barriers, so that many in vivo experiments are needed before any application in human and veterinary medical field. The main aim of the project is to set up of an innovative in vitro system to evaluate the capability of nanovectors for drug delivery to cross biological barriers. This in vitro system will also be suitable for toxicological and safety tests to assess the capability of entering the organism of the nanocontaminants occurring in the environment and in the food. Moreover, the scientific and technological advancement derived from this project will contribute to the setting up of standardized tests for the safety of nanocomposites. The results of this project will lead to a drastic reduction and, wherever possible, to the elimination of animal experimentation for the above-mentioned applications: in fact, the system will allow the use of tissues and organs explanted during surgery, in human and veterinary medicine.
