St.Gallen has its finger on the pulse of nanomedicine

Nanotechnology makes it possible to produce materials or formulations that are of the same size as the building blocks of human cells. This makes it possible for the first time to develop therapeutic approaches that can specifically combat a disease at the molecular level - also taking into account the genetic or metabolic fingerprint of the patient.

Vifor Pharma, based in St.Gallen, is probably the company that has been active in the field of nanomedicine the longest. Vifor Pharma's iron supplements, which are used to treat iron deficiency, are based on tiny iron particles in the nanometer range that are coated with a layer of sugar. These products have been on the market for decades. Nanomedicine is currently in the spotlight due to the mRNA vaccines against Covid-19 and has therefore experienced a kind of breakthrough. Lipid nanoparticles package the actual vaccines, which consist of extremely labile mRNA, making it easier for them to enter the body's cells. The mRNA molecules then trigger various reactions in the cells, which ultimately lead to the vaccinated person becoming immune to the virus.

Empa in St.Gallen uses the properties of the nano-dwarfs in particular for blood purification (for example, using small magnetic particles with appropriate functionalization to fish toxins, viruses or bacteria out of the blood), for diagnostics or as tissue adhesives (whereby the large surface area of the nanoparticles helps to bind the biological macromolecules and thus close wounds that are difficult to suture). Many other application ideas are in the queue and the St.Gallen location is at the forefront of international nanomedicine thanks to its local expertise.

Thanks to the great commitment of Empa, the Cantonal Hospital of St.Gallen and the University of St.Gallen, it has now been possible to bring the "NanoMed Europe" conference to St.Gallen. From September 7 to 9, 2021, the European technology platform "Nanomedicine" will meet in St.Gallen - due to the current corona situation, the conference will take place purely virtually this year. Although a lot is being done in Switzerland in the fields of nanotechnology and health, the conference has never been held in Switzerland before. The collaboration between the three institutions has been going on for some time, as medical topics are complex and therefore require the interaction of different disciplines. It was therefore clear to Peter Wick that the conference would also be held in conjunction with the Cantonal Hospital of St.Gallen and the University of St.Gallen.