Postdoctoral position: Development of polymer vesicles for detoxification in Parkinson’s disease

Project description

This postdoctoral position is part of the NANOTRAP project, which brings together the Laboratoire de chimie des polymères organiques (LCPO) and the NutriNeuro laboratory at the interface of polymer physical chemistry, biochemistry, and neuroscience. The project explores a nanomedicine approach aimed at limiting the accumulation of toxic compounds involved in neurodegeneration, particularly in Parkinson’s disease. It focuses on developing polymer vesicles, known as polymersomes, capable of encapsulating enzymes and acting as nanoreactors for cellular detoxification.

The successful candidate will develop and characterize these polymer vesicles, optimize enzyme encapsulation, and evaluate their functional properties. They will also investigate their behavior in biological environments in vitro. This work will explore the potential of these systems in cellular models of neurodegenerative diseases, with a particular focus on Parkinson’s disease.

Références

1. Martin, A.; et al. J. Pharm. 2023, 642, 123157, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpharm.2023.123157.
2. Schvartzman, C.; et al. Biomacromolecules 2024, 25 (7), 4087–4094. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.biomac.4c00200.
3. Marie, A.; et al. Nutr. 2022, 9, 811843. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2022.811843.
4. Bosch-Bouju, C.; et al. Neurosci. 2014, 34 (48), 15836–15850. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0893-14.2014.
5. Baufeld, C.; et al. Neural Transm. 2018, 125 (5), 809–826. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00702-017-1795-7.

Techniques used

• Nano- and microparticle formulation and enzyme encapsulation. Characterization by dynamic light scattering (DLS), electron microscopy, or fluorescence microscopy.
• High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and enzyme activity assays.
• 2D and 3D cell culture, viability assays, and immunofluorescence analysis.

Candidate profile and internship conditions

The candidate should hold a PhD in materials science applied to healthcare or in cell biology applied to neuroscience. Experience in developing materials for biological applications would be particularly welcome. A strong interest in research at the interface of chemistry and neuroscience, together with the ability to work in an interdisciplinary environment, is expected.

Start date: December 1^st , 2026

Contract duration: 16 months

Laboratories:

LCPO, ENSCBP, 16 avenue Pey Berland, 33607 Pessac, France

NutriNeuro, UMR 1286, 146 rue Léo Saignat, 33076 Bordeaux, France

Contacts

Dr Angela Mutschler, LCPO,

Dr Clémentine Bosch-Bouju, NutriNeuro,

Dr Charlotte Madore-Delpech, NutriNeuro,