Year
2025
Principal Investigator
Platform
Location
Italy, IT
Abstract
CAPTURE aims to establish a next-generation correlative multimodal microscopy (CMM) workflow for the study of cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. These conditions represent two of the most significant global health challenges, with epidemiological projections indicating that their incidence will double in the coming decades. The project focuses on developing integrated protocols that combine optical microscopy with electron microscopy (SEM, Volutome-SBF, FIB-SEM, etc) to enable multiscale, high-resolution imaging of biological systems. The mitochondrial transfer in breast cancer will be used as target of our research aiming to study anticancer treatments through a correlative studies of microscopy and cytotoxicity. The workflow will cover all stages: sample preparation, development and functionalization of multifunctional fluorescent nanoparticles, multimodal imaging, and data analysis. Workflows will be established focusing on co-culture cells, first, spheroid, later, and eventually biopsies to investigate the behaviour and response to treatments paving the way for reproducible protocols with translational potential for precision medicine.
Objectives
- Objective 1 - Develop a correlative workflow on cells, enabling nanoscale mapping of subcellular targets and labelling with dual-functional nanoparticles.
- Objective 2 – Develop a correlative workflow on 3D systems (organoids) for volumetric analysis of ultrastructures as a function of the treatment response.
- Objective 3 – Develop a correlative workflow on biopsies from experimental data and data sets from public healthcare (public hospitals and IRCSS).
Collaborators
- Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi (NICO) - Turin
- Breast Unit (UO-ASL Lecce) – Lecce
Key 5 publications
- 1. Ikeda, H., Kawase, K., Nishi, T., Watanabe, T., Takenaga, K., Inozume, T., Ishino, T., Aki, S., Lin, J., Kawashima, S., Nagasaki, J., Ueda, Y., Suzuki, S., Makinoshima, H., Itami, M., Nakamura, Y., Tatsumi, Y., Suenaga, Y., Morinaga, T., Honobe-Tabuchi, A., Ohnuma, T., Kawamura, T., Umeda, Y., Nakamura, Y., Kiniwa, Y., Ichihara, E., Hayashi, H., Ikeda, J.-I., Hanazawa, T., Toyooka, S., Mano, H., Suzuki, T., Osawa, T., Kawazu, M. & Togashi, Y. Immune evasion through mitochondrial transfer in the tumour microenvironment. Nature 638, (2025).
- 2. Dong, L.-F., Rohlena, J., Zobalova, R., Nahacka, Z., Rodriguez, A.-M., Berridge, M. V & Neuzil, J. Mitochondria on the move: Horizontal mitochondrial transfer in disease and health. J. Cell Biol. 222, (2023).
- 3. Yang, Y., An, Y., Ren, M., Wang, H., Bai, J., Du, W. & Kong, D. The mechanisms of action of mitochondrial targeting agents in cancer: inhibiting oxidative phosphorylation and inducing apoptosis. Front. Pharmacol. 14, 1–16 (2023).
- 4. Yan, Y., Li, S., Su, L., Tang, X., Chen, X., Gu, X., Yang, G., Chi, H. & Huang, S. Mitochondrial inhibitors: a new horizon in breast cancer therapy. Front. Pharmacol. 15, 1–8 (2024).
People
- De Pace Cesare
- Balestra Gianluca
- Nito Alessia
- Surano Gabriele
- Caputo Annalisa
- Marra Gian Paolo
- Pascali Stefano
- Esposito Marco
- Tobaldi David
- Simeone Daniela
- Gaballo Antonio
- Gigli Giuseppe
- Quarta Alessandra
- Cuscunà Massimo