SNOOPY - COST ACTION CA23111

Searching for Nanostructured or pOre fOrming Peptides for therapY

About the Action

Description of the Action

The COST Action SNOOPY will bring together a network of experts and young researchers from diverse disciplines (chemistry, biology, biochemistry, materials science, nanotechnology, medicine, physics) to overcome existing barriers to predict and implement bioactive peptides’ ability to self-assemble into functional nanostructures, including those at the interface with membranes, potentially forming pores and channels. This is a fast-growing field with enormous potential for therapy (including targeted cancer therapy, drug delivery, amyloidosis inhibition, regenerative medicine, membrane channels, and antimicrobials), and for the development of nanotechnological tools that could include potential use in diagnostics, optics, catalysis, and bioelectronics.

Theoreticians and experimentalists of the SNOOPY Action will synergize to enable in silico predictions of self-assembly behavior, as well as to develop new advanced characterization methods, and to produce them and test them too. The expertise gathered by the Action will be applied to train and build the career of younger members. The geopolitical balance of the Action is strategically set to level the gap between COST Members, and to make of its diversity a tactical asset to boost creativity and foster new ideas.

The Action will have socioeconomical impact through the search for new diagnostic and therapeutic solutions to address some of the most formidable challenges of the society (e.g., advance our understanding of amyloidoses and antimicrobial resistance), to assist scientists and industry in the development of new technologies (e.g., peptide nanostructures as vaccine adjuvants) and to develop more sustainable processes (e.g., greener peptide synthesis, or using peptides as biodegradable substitutes to polluting alternatives).

Action Keywords

peptides • nanostructures • antimicrobial • amyloids • self-assembly

Areas of Expertise Relevant for the Action

Main Challenges

The main goal of the Action is to create a network of experts and innovators from diverse disciplines and nations to overcome existing barriers to predict and implement bioactive peptides' ability to self-assemble into functional nanostructures, including those at the interface with membranes, potentially forming pores and channels, for health.

The advent of machine-learning (ML) methods has demonstrated great potential to speed up scientific discovery and holds great promise to enable the identification of clear design rules for the development of the next-generation peptide-based therapeutics.

These will include not only nanostructure-forming peptides, but also membrane-active peptides to enable targeted delivery into cells, as well as the development of new therapeutic paradigms, or instance through the control of cellular transport.

Specific Objectives

The following specific objectives shall be accomplished:

Research Coordination

Search and study bioactive peptides and their nano-assemblies for enhanced performance in disease prevention, diagnosis, imaging and/or treatment, such as the targeted delivery of bioactives, boosting of the immune response, correct interaction with proteins and other biomolecules to generate new means of therapy.
Investigate the link between AMPs and amyloids especially from the nanomorphological point of view, and ideally at the interface with lipid membranes.
Facilitate the standardization of practices and nanomaterials characterization based on inputs from researchers and enterprises.
Facilitate technological transfer and/or knowledge transfer through the collaborative work established within the Action between participants from academia and industry.
Promote knowledge dissemination to YRIs and beyond to the general public, through various channels, social media, Action website, publications, and events.

Capacity Building

Establish interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary and/or transdisciplinary teams to facilitate the creation of a common language towards effective collaboration and creation of effective bridges across disciplines including bioactive peptides, peptide assemblies, and peptide nanostructures.
Promote research collaborations where diversity (e.g., age, gender, geographical, discipline, etc.) will foster creativity and inclusiveness.
Promote the training, visibility, and integration of scientists from Inclusiveness Target Countries (ITCs).
Train and mentor YRIs who share common interests on any scientific aspect related to peptides and their nanostructures through thematic workshops and training schools.
Promote gender balance and support YRIs, and females to maximize diversity and inclusiveness.