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Use of nanospheres as a vehicle for the administration of immunostimulants in species of interest to aquaculture (NANOAQUA)

15th National Programme for the allocation of Research Grants for Life and Matter Sciences

Marine sciences

Senior Researcher : Nerea Roher Armentia

Research Centre or Institution : Faculty of Biosciences. Autonomous University of Barcelona

Abstract

Aquaculture, as the means for breeding hydrobiological resources, is a sector of strategic importance to Spain. One of its limiting factors is diseases, considering the few specific tools (vaccines and/or immunostimulants) to prevent them, and this causes significant losses in the sector. In this context, one promising tool is the use of nanotechnology for the design, manufacture and use of nanoliposomes that encapsulate molecules to allow immunostimulation and mass vaccination with minimally invasive and non-toxic methods. The objective of this project in the first phase is the in vitro and in vivo evaluation of the biological and physical parameters of liposomes in the zebrafish model. In parallel, work will be carried out on the composition of the liposomes to ensure systems with a high encapsulation capacity and the possibility of releasing active compounds. In the second phase, these devices will be assessed in vivo by administering immunostimulants (IS) encapsulated in liposomes in both the zebrafish model and other aquaculture species of interest such as trout or sea bream.