Nicolas Bertrand

A pharmacist by training, Dr. Nicolas Bertrand is an assistant professor at Laval University’s School of Pharmaceutical Studies. He is also a researcher in the department of Endocrinology and Nephrology at the CHU de Quebec Research Center. His research in nanomedicine focuses on potentiating the efficacy of therapeutic molecules by using nanotechnologies. He is the editor of the European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics (Elsevier, IF: 4.2) and director of the « Biopharmacy et pharmacometrics » strategic cluster of the Réseau Québécois de Recherche sur les Médicaments (rqrm.ca). He is an associate member of the Institute on Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods (INAF) and of the Centre de Recherche sur les Matériaux Avancés (CERMA).

Encapsulating bioactive molecules through differentiated technologies

Many drugs in development, or already on the market, possess suboptimal physiochemical or pharmacological characteristics. Nanomedicine can harness the unique features of nanomaterials to facilitate the administration of these drugs, or potentiate their efficacy. Encapsulation of bioactive molecules in nanoparticles can prevent their metabolism, ameliorate their pharmacokinetics, or ensure their optimal distribution to diseased tissues. Altogether, these effects can pave the way for more efficient and better tolerated drugs.

Dr. Nicolas Bertrand’s laboratory uses functional polymers and lipids to encapsulate a variety of bioactive molecules in clinically-relevant drug delivery vehicles.

Elucidate the interactions of nanomaterials with the immune system

Like other drugs, the use of nanoparticles as drug delivery vehicles can trigger unexpected or undesirable reactions. The type of system, its size, or the materials used in its preparation can all influence the nature and extent of its interactions with the immune system. The development of better tolerated nanomedicines necessitates a better understanding of how drug delivery platforms interact with the various components of the immune system.

Through a unique expertise in the preparation of nanoparticle libraries, combined with an established knowledge in preclinical pharmacokinetics, Dr. Nicolas Bertrand’s laboratory specialises in studying the fate of nano- and biomaterials in living animals. This approach leads to an integrated understanding of the interactions of materials with complete, functional biological systems.