Nadiia Gumerova and Annette Rompel among the Top 10 of the S&B Award 2025

11.04.2025

The project “Polyoxometalates as transmembrane carriers”, submitted by Dr. Nadiia Gumerova and Prof. Annette Rompel, has been selected for the final round of the Science & Business Award 2025.

This innovative research project harnesses the unique properties of polyoxometalates (POMs) to improve targeted drug delivery systems. POMs—oxygen-rich anions containing multiple metal ions—can pass through cell membranes without causing permanent damage. The team has optimized this mechanism by fine-tuning the composition of the metal core, facilitating the transport of therapeutic agents into cells.

Currently under development, the technology holds the potential to redefine standards for non-viral delivery systems in gene and cell therapy, offering promising new options for cancer treatment and beyond. The goal is to enable more effective therapies with fewer side effects.

The Science & Business Award, presented by the Rudolf Salinger Fund, aims to bridge the gap between science and business by recognizing early-stage commercialization ideas based on scientific achievements. The award honors outstanding research with high innovation potential, market relevance, and societal, social, or environmental impact. The top ten teams will present their projects in a public competition on May 22, where the winner will be selected.

 

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Schematic (left) illustrates how POM crosses a lipid bilayer, acting as a transmembrane carrier. Fluorescence microscopy images (right) show the cellular uptake of a cargo molecule in the absence (top) and presence (bottom) of POM. Cell nuclei are stained blue, and the transported cargo is visualized in green, indicating enhanced intracellular delivery when POM is present. (Adv. Mater. 2024, 36, 2309219)

 

Nadiia Gumerova, PhD and Prof. Annette Rompel at the Institute for Biophysical Chemistry