The project is agreed as a joint collaboration among IBAR, ATOMKI and UD, the latter being a cost free participant. There are two main directions envisaged by the proposed project: - receptors mapping and therapy, using an affibody against HER2 receptors, combined with an adequate radioisotope. In this respect, the specific objectives are: a) expression and purification of affibodies; b) establishing labelling procedures; c) ex vivo and/or in vivo testing of optimal compounds.
Head of Department
Prof. Dr. Stefan Szedlacsek is the Head of the Enzymology Department at the Institute of Biochemistry of the Romanian Academy. He holds a PhD degree in Biotechnology from Polytechnical University of Bucharest as well as a MSc in Organic Synthesis (Polytechnical University, Bucharest) and MSc in Mathematics (University of Bucharest). As a visiting scientist, he performed research in the field of cholesterol metabolism at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (USA), where he succeeded to evidence a new pathway in the metabolism of oxysterols. He is an “Alexander von Humboldt” fellow and worked in Germany, in the Institute of Biochem More...
Research Assistant
Adina has a Bachelor's degree in Biology and a Master's degree in Applied Genetics and Biotechnology from the Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest. She is a PhD student and Research Assistant at the Institute of Bio More...
Andra-Elena Cosoreanu is a researcher in the Institute of Biochemistry of the Romanian Academy. Andra-Elena is currently working in Enzymology in the Enzymology.
Research Assistant
Andrei-Mihai Vasilescu is a researcher in the Institute of Biochemistry of the Romanian Academy. Andrei-Mihai is currently working in Enzymology in the Enzymology.
Asistent
Bica Constantin Catalin is a researcher in the Institute of Biochemistry of the Romanian Academy. Bica is currently working in Enzymology in the Enzymology.
In 2024, the bilateral cooperation encountered unforeseen challenges. The Hungarian team experienced difficulties due to the loss of key technical staff and equipment malfunctions, which affected experimental activities. The Romanian team experienced financial constraints that limited the acquisition of necessary reagents and delayed planned experiments. Despite these obstacles, scientific collaboration continued through joint publications, conference presentations and a Horizon Europe grant application. Dissemination efforts included conferences and events aligned with the activities and objectives of this bilateral agreement, ensuring continued engagement with the research community.
1. Production and characterization of anti-HER2 affibody:
- Successful synthesis and purification of anti-HER2 affibody using bacterial E. coli expression systems.
-Purification using affinity chromatography and confirmation of structural integrity through HPLC and mass spectrometry.
2. Radiolabeling and evaluation for nuclear medicine applications:
-Radiolabeling of affibody conjugates with terbium isotopes (155/156Tb) and validation via HPLC and fluorometric analysis.
-Investigation of affibody-receptor HER2 interaction in specific cell lines.
-Optimization of labeling methods and determination of conjugate stability for potential preclinical applications.
3. In vitro studies and biological process analysis:
-Assessment of the internalization mechanism of radiolabeled affibody in HER2+ tumor cells.
-Investigation of the role of Coenzyme A in tau protein modifications related to neurodegenerative diseases.
-Use of Western blotting and SDS-PAGE to confirm protein interactions.
4. Optimization of experimental processes and troubleshooting:
-Purification of a new batch of anti-HER2 affibody to eliminate unwanted contaminants.
-Development of an improved conjugation method and characterization of the obtained compounds.
10 may 2023: Seminar IBAR
1. Lecture title: "Labelling anti-HER2-affibodies with 52Mn via pyclen based bifunctional ligands: from ligand to in vivo PET/MR experiments"
-Balazs Varadi, PhD(c), Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Debrecen, Hungary, Institute for Nuclear Research, Debrecen, Hungary.
2. Lecture title: "Designing macrocyclic ligands for biomedical application"
-Professor Gyula Tircso, PhD, Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Debrecen, Hungary.
4-7 October 2023: First prize for the poster;
"Labelling of chelator molecules with terbium isotopes" at the Autumn Radiochemistry Days in Balatonszárszó, Hungary; Authors: Fodor M., Brezovcsik K., Váradi B., Tircsó Gy., Szűcs Z.
2 september 2024: "Ion Heliade Radulescu Auditorium" Romanian Academy; Frontiers in Biochemistry: Romania-China Collaborative Perspectives
Lecture title: "Rationally-Designed Targeting Agents in Cancer and Neurodegenerative Disorders" - PhD student, Andrei - Mihai Vasilescu
Publication:
1. "Mn(II)-based diagnostic agents: from basic research to targeted diagnostic procedures"; Balázs Váradi, Gergő Zoltán Sajtos, Károly Brezovcsik, Zoltan Szűcs, Stefan Szedlacsek, Gábor Nagy, Gyula Tircso; Scientia et Securitas 5(2): 253-266, 2024 Nov25 doi: https://doi.org/10.1556/112.2024.00208
2. Editorial: „Molecular targets in oncological and hematological disease management: innovations in precision medicine"; Adrian Bogdan Tigu, Gregory Wiedman, Stefan Eugen Szedlacsek; Frontiers in Pharmacology; 2024 Sep 20 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1494396
11-15 May 2025
Poster accepted at the 26th International Symposium on Radiopharmaceutical Sciences; Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia:
a) "89Zr radiolabelling of p-NCS-Bz-DFO anti-HER2 immunoconjugate and in vitro assessment of its immunoconjugate and in vitro assessment of its potential in HER2+ breast cancer imaging"; Dana Niculae, Maria-Roxana Cornoiu, Adina Gabriela Puiu, Radu Anton Leonte, Diana Cocioabă, Radu Serban, Dragos Andrei Niculae, Alina Catrinel Ion; Abstract ID: 396
b) "Investigation of the competitive effect of contaminating inactive metal ions during radiolabelling with ions during radiolabelling with terbium radioisotopes"; Brezovcsik K., Fodor M., Váradi B., Tircsó Gy., Szűcs Z.: iSRS
c) "Target of the radioisotope ¹⁵²Tb PET, a member of the theranostic terbium isotope family terbium isotope family"; Fodor M., Brezovcsik K., Váradi B., Tircsó Gy., Szűcs Z.: iSRS
Romanian Academy