Contact

Laboratory for General Biochemistry and Physical Pharmacy
Ghent University
Ottergemsesteenweg 460
9000 Gent
Belgium
Tel: 0032 9 264 80 47 (secretary)
Tel: 0032 9 264 83 65 (direct)
Fax: 0032 9 2648189
E-mail: pouria.ramezani@ugent.be

Biography

Pouria Ramezani started studying Pharmaceutical Sciences at Mashhad University of Medical Sciences in Mashad, Iran and obtained his Pharm.D. degree in 2019. During the course of his studies, he was actively involved in research regarding nanomedicine for cancer therapy in the Laboratory of Nanomedicine. He performed his thesis titled “Targeted MMP-2 responsive chimeric polymersomes for therapy against colorectal cancer”. In August 2021, he joined the Laboratory of General Biochemistry and Physical Pharmacy to start his PhD project which explores the use of nanomedicine and light to treat vitreous opacities under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Stefaan De Smedt, Prof. Dr. Kevin Braeckmans and Dr. Félix Sauvage.

Research interests

Drug Delivery, Gene Delivery, Nanomedicine, Photoporation, Ophthalmology, Cancer Therapy

Summary of Research Project(s)

Collagen fibers and hyaluronic acid are the main constituents of the vitreous. Together they form a 3D-structure in which collagen fibers form a network. The stability of this network is provided by the repulsive forces of the hyaluronic acid molecules keeping collagen fibers apart from each other and maintaining the structure. Due to age-related circumstances, a disruption in the matrix might occur causing the formation of collagen opacities in the vitreous (‘eye floaters’). These opacities often cause vision impairment in patients with a significant impact on quality of life.
The aim of my project is to investigate the potential of nanomedicine and light in order to ablate vitreous opacities. In our project, photosensitizers will be synthetized in the form of nanomedicine. Laser light will be illuminated upon these nanoparticles so that they could generate vapor nanobubbles (VNBs). The mechanical forces attributed to the collapse of VNBs will then cause the mechanical destruction of the opacities.