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Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Technology

Research Team
Faculty member:
Sophia G. Antimisiaris, Professor [Lab. Director], e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Sophia Xtziantoniou, Assistant Professor, email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Klepetsanis Pavlos, Assistant Professor, e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Post-Doctoral Researchers: 3
Graduate Students: 11 (Ph.D. and M.Sc. students)

Research Activities/Expertise

  • Nanoparticles for diagnosis and therapy of Alzheimer Disease.
  • Liposomal formulations for Controlled release-Drug-eluting stents (for performance & haemo/ biocompatibility improvement)
  • Liposomal formulations of arsenic-containing lipids for therapy of cancer/targeted delivery of anticancer agents
  • Development of  liposomal formulations of a microbicide for vaginal administration (for prevention of sexual transmission of HIV)
  • Controlled release DDS for intravitreal delivery


Funded Research Projects

  • FP7-2008-NMP, Large Scale Project: “Nanoparticles for Therapy and Diagnosis of Alzheimer disease” Acronym NAD. WP leader, PI for UPAT (2008-2013).
  • ERASMUS, LLL-2008, Intensive Program: “Nanomedicines: Nanopariculates for Drug Delivery”, Grant Holder, (2008-2009).
  • INTERREG III, Greece-Italy “Establishment of a Network for Advanced Biomaterials”, Partner, Team Leader (2006-2008).
  • FP6-2004-LIFESHEALTH, IP: ”Selection and Development of a microbicide formulation for the prevention of sexual distribution of HIV” acronym SHIVA (Contract n°:503162), Vice coordinator –WP leader, PI for UPAT (2004-2009).
  • FP6-2004 -MARIE-CURIE, Early –Stage PhD scholarships: “Towards a Euro PhD in Advanced Drug Delivery”, Partner, Host Laboratory, PI for UPAT (2004-2008).


Recent Publications

  • G. Besson, M. Caron, S. Lekana-Douki Etenna, A. Mintsa-Ndong, S. Mourtas, B. Sallé, C.De Giuli Morghen, P. LaColla, S. Antimisiaris M. Kazanji Protective properties of non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (MC1220) incorporated into liposome against intravaginal challenge of Rhesus Macaques with RT SHIV, Virology 405 (1), 225-233, 2010
  • E Markoutsa, G Pampalakis, A Niarakis, I. A. Romero, B. Weksler, P-Or Couraud, S. G. Antimisiaris, Uptake and permeability studies of BBB-targeting immunoliposomes using the hCMEC/D3 cell line, EJPB, 77: 2, 265-274, 2011
  • S. Mourtas, M. Canovi, C. Zona, D. Aurilia, A. Niarakis, (..), S. G. Antimisiaris, Curcumin-decorated nanoliposomes with very high affinity for amyloid-b1-42 peptide, Biomaterials, 32: 6, 1635-1645, 2011
  • Canovi, M., Markoutsa, E., Lazar, A.N., Pampalakis, G., Clemente, C., (..), Antimisiaris, S.G .The binding affinity of anti-Aβ1-42 MAb-decorated nanoliposomes to Aβ1-42 peptides in vitro and to amyloid deposits in post-mortem tissue. Biomaterials 32 (23), pp. 5489-5497, 2011
  • M-T. Popescu, S. Mourtas, G. Pampalakis, S. G. Antimisiaris, C. Tsitsilianis, pH-Responsive Hydrogel/Liposome Soft Nanocomposites For Tuning Drug Release, Biomacromolecules, (2011), 12(8), 3023-3030.
  • A.Skouras, S. Mourtas, E. Markoutsa, M-C. De Goltstein, C Wallon, S Catoen, SG. Antimisiaris. USPIO encapsulating nanoliposomes with high entrapping efficiency, stability and magnetic properties. Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology and Medicine, 7 (5) , pp. 572-579, 2011.
  • M. Taylor, S Moore, S Mourtas, A Niarakis, (..) Antimisiaris, M Gregori, David Allsop. Effect of curcumin-associated and lipid ligand functionalised nanoliposomes on aggregation ofthe Alzheimer's Aβ peptide. Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology, and Medicine7 (5) , pp. 541-550, 2011.
  • E. Markoutsa, K. Papadia, C. Clemente, O. Flores, S.G. Antimisiaris. Anti-Aβ MAb and dually-decorated nanoliposomes: Effect of Aβ1-42 peptides on interaction with hCMEC/D3 cells, European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics, Ahead of Print, 2012


Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology Group

The group is involved in the development of polymeric nanocarriers (e.g. polymeric nanospheres and micelles) for controlled drug delivery and drug targeting applications. There is expertise (and availability of relevant facilities) on: polymer synthesis, preparation and physicochemical characterization of nanocarriers, basic biological evaluation of  drug nanocarriers (cell lines, animal models). The group collaborates with a number of research teams from Greece and abroad.

Website: www.pharmacy.upatras.gr

Research Team
Faculty members
Konstantinos Avgoustakis, Associate Professor, e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Pavlos Klepetsanis, Assistant Professor, e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Post-Doctoral Researchers: 3
Graduate Students: 3 (Ph.D.: 2 and M.Sc.: 1 student)


Research Activities/Expertise

  • Development of targeted anticancer drug delivery systems based on biodegradable polymers and copolymers, such as poly(lactide) -poly(ethyleneglycol), poly(lactide-co-glycolide) -poly(ethyleneglycol) and poly(propylene-succinate)-poly(ethyleneglycol).
  • Preparation and evaluation of polymeric systems for the controlled delivery of antigens, with the long term objective being the development of prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines.
  • Development of magnetic nanoparticles based on biodegradable polymers and copolymers, such as poly(lactide) and poly(lactide)-poly(ethyleneglycol), for biomedical applications (magnetic resonance imaging and targeted cancer treatment)
  • Development of ‘smart’ drug delivery systems based on pH-responsive polymeric micelles or temperature sensitive nanospheres


Funded research projects

  • GSRT PAVET (2005) “Development of novel biodegradable polyesters for the preparation of raloxifene nanospheres for the treatment of osteoporosis”, Team leader.


Recent publications

  • K. Nikou, N. Stivaktakis, K. Avgoustakis, P. A. Sotiropoulou, S. A. Perez, C.N. Baxevanis, M. Papamichail and L. Leondiadis, A HER-2/neu peptide admixed with PLA microspheres induces a Th1 biased immune response in mice, Biochim Biophys Acta, 1725, 182 (2005).
  • E. C. Gryparis, M. Hatziapostolou, E. Papadimitriou and K. Avgoustakis, Anticancer activity of cisplatin-loaded PLGA-mPEG nanoparticles on LNCaP prostate cancer cells, Ε.J. Pharm. Biopharm., 67,1 (2007).
  • A. Beletsi, P. Klepetsanis, D.S. Ithakissios, S. Kounias, A. Stavropoulos and  K. Avgoustakis, Simultaneous optimization of cisplatin-loaded PLGA-mPEG nanoparticles with regard to their size and drug encapsulation, Current Nanoscience 4, 173 (2008).
  • G. Mattheolabakis, Z. Panagi, E. Taoufik, M. Roberts and K. Avgoustakis, In vivo investigation of tolerance and antitumor activity of cisplatin-loaded PLGA-mPEG nanoparticles, Ε.J. Pharm. Biopharm., 71,190 (2009).