Abstract
Title: BIO-WASTE PRODUCTS AS A SOURCE OF NUTRACEUTICALS TO TARGET THE COMMON TRAIT OF INFLAMMATION IN CANCER AND NEURODEGENERATION Project Summary The project entitled "Bio-waste products as a source of nutraceuticals to target the common trait of inflammation in cancer and neurodegeneration" aims to address two major global health challenges—cancer and neurodegenerative diseases—by leveraging an innovative, sustainable strategy rooted in circular economy principles. These two pathologies, although historically considered distinct, are now recognized to share common features, notably aging and chronic inflammation, which contribute to their onset and progression. Despite recent advances in biomedical technologies, the development of effective therapies remains slow and insufficient. This project seeks to fill this gap by identifying and validating bioactive compounds derived from food and agricultural waste that exert anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and neuroprotective effects. The overall goal is to identify low-cost and eco-sustainable nutraceutical molecules and candidate extracts from food and agricultural by-products capable of counteracting inflammation, a key driver of both cancer and neurodegeneration. The focus will be on bio-waste sources such as citrus waste and olive pomaces, chestnut shells (Castanea sativa), pomegranate and tomato peels. Using environmentally friendly extraction techniques, these by-products will be processed to obtain phytochemical-rich extracts with potential therapeutic properties. The project unfolds over 24 months and is structured into three interrelated work packages (WPs): WP1: Eco-sustainable production and characterization of bio-waste extracts This phase focuses on selecting and processing waste materials using green extraction techniques, such as supercritical fluid extraction, ultrasound-assisted extraction, and deep eutectic solvents. The resulting extracts will be chemically characterized (e.g., total phenolics, flavonoids, antioxidant activity) before and after undergoing a simulated in vitro digestion process that mimics gastrointestinal conditions. This ensures the extracts’ bioactivity in biologically relevant forms. WP2: Evaluation of anti-inflammatory activity in models of cancer and neurodegeneration The digested extracts will be tested on various in vitro models, including osteosarcoma (OS) cell lines and microglial cells (BV-2) either alone or co-cultured with neuron-like SH-SY5Y cells to simulate neuroinflammatory conditions. These tests will assess cytotoxicity, anti-inflammatory properties (e.g., cytokine modulation, NF-kB pathway inhibition), antioxidant capacity, and neuroprotective effects. Additionally, in vivo experiments will be carried out on transgenic Drosophila melanogaster models of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. Treated flies will be evaluated for lifespan, locomotor ability, memory, and biomolecular markers of inflammation, oxidative stress, and neurodegeneration. WP3: Molecular profiling and AI-assisted identification of active compounds Proteomic analyses using 2D electrophoresis and mass spectrometry will be performed on both cell and Drosophila samples to identify differentially expressed proteins involved in inflammation and disease pathways. These data will feed into a bioinformatic pipeline where Artificial Intelligence (AI) methods, such as machine learning and molecular docking, will help define the molecular descriptors and biological targets of the most promising nutraceutical compounds. This step will guide future compound optimization and structure–activity relationship (SAR) modeling. Expected Results and Scientific Impact: The project is expected to deliver: • Novel eco-sustainable extraction protocols for bioactive compounds from waste materials; • A panel of candidate nutraceutical extracts with validated anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and neuroprotective effects in preclinical models; • Proteomic and computational characterization of the molecular pathways modulated by these compounds; • AI-guided models to identify effective molecular features and predict bioactivity. By establishing a clear link between inflammation and the pathogenesis of both cancer and neurodegeneration, the project will improve our understanding of common biochemical pathways, support biomarker discovery, and lay the groundwork for future mechanism-based interventions. Societal and Environmental Relevance: Neurodegenerative diseases currently affect over 35 million people worldwide, and cancer remains one of the leading causes of death. The societal burden of these diseases is enormous in terms of healthcare costs and quality of life. The project's use of bio-waste valorization supports EU and UN sustainability goals by transforming agricultural waste into valuable health-promoting resources. The approach is aligned with the PNRR (Piano Nazionale di Ripresa e Resilienza) missions concerning sustainable agriculture and the transition from research to innovation, and it exemplifies the One Health perspective by linking human health to environmental sustainability. Dissemination and Future Outlook: The project includes dissemination activities through national and international scientific congresses (e.g., SIB, FEBS), PhD schools, public outreach events like the European Researchers’ Night, and digital communication platforms. Stakeholders in the nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, and environmental sectors will be engaged to foster innovation transfer and future application of the results. Additionally, the project involves and trains young researchers—especially women—thereby promoting gender equity and generational turnover in science. In conclusion, this project combines scientific excellence, sustainability, and innovation to address some of the most pressing biomedical and ecological challenges. By developing functional bioactive compounds from waste, it aims to deliver impactful results for human health, scientific knowledge, and environmental conservation.
Dettagli del progetto
Responsabile scientifico: Silvana Hrelia
Strutture Unibo coinvolte:
Dipartimento di Scienze per la Qualità della Vita
Coordinatore:
Università degli Studi di CAMERINO(Italy)
Contributo totale di progetto: Euro (EUR) 193.616,00
Contributo totale Unibo: Euro (EUR) 70.396,00
Durata del progetto in mesi: 24
Data di inizio
05/10/2023
Data di fine:
28/02/2026
