Sferola Ltd is developing a next-generation Solid Lipid Nanoparticle Therapeutics for Paediatric Brain Tumours, capable of delivering targeted therapeutic nanoparticles to tumour tissues while being able to cross the blood-brain-barrier, and partnering up with University of Leeds / St James' Hospital to test its potential to improve the outcome of children suffering from DIPG (Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma). DIPG brain tumour represents a significant public health burden, affecting children, yet our ability to treat this type of cancer is lacking, with approximately 1% survival after 5 years.

Sferola Ltd is developing a next-generation nanoparticle hydrogel for epithelial ovarian cancer, capable of delivering targeted therapeutic nanoparticles to tumour tissues and testing it in-vitro and in-vivo. Ovarian tumours represent a significant public health burden, yet our ability to treat this type of cancer is lacking due to vague symptoms resulting in late stage diagnostics, aggressive nature of the tumour, its location, limited response to current chemotherapy and high recurrence rate resulting in 10 year median survival rate of 35%.

This project is a proof-of-concept project to demonstrate the feasibility of a novel crystallisation method to control particle size and properties to enable fast development of new drug substances into effective drug products. We will use the funds to build a proof-of-concept test rig then and conduct experiments to generate engineered particles of desired properties. Finally, we will test the physico-chemical properties of our engineered powder and its aerodynamic performance. Our mission is to unlock the potential of unused or under-utilised drugs because of poor aqueous solubility by developing and applying particle engineering technology that can address the most difficult challenges in drug formulations. We aim to collaborate with universities and pharmaceutical companies to turn new and complex drugs into usable products that can benefit the patients in need. This project will enable us to develop the basic capabilities to take on this challenge. Our technology will focus on optimising drug formulations for inhalation route. It is well known that inhalation route is ideal for delivery of drugs targeting diseases affecting the lung such as asthma, COPD, cystic fibrosis as well as lung cancer. Additionally, the pulmonary system can also be used to deliver drugs for other conditions due to its many benefits including large surface area, less metabolism, high blood flow, highly absorptive membrane, and less dose required leading to significant reduction in chronic side effects. However, this route comes with significant challenges that are difficult to overcome such as device design and formulation development. These problems can be overcome with an appropriate particle engineering technology approach, minimising the development requirements from the formulation and device perspectives.