Chitosan-based nanoparticles for intranasal administration of bevacizumab

• Grant number: 12/13446-4
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): October 01, 2012
• Effective date (End): June 30, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Pharmacy - Pharmaceutical Technology
• Principal researcher: Maria Palmira Daflon Gremião
• Grantee: Leonardo Miziara Barboza Ferreira
• Home Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas (FCFAR). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araraquara. Araraquara , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 13/19578-2 - Evaluation of the potential of intranasal administration of nanoparticles loaded with an anticancer protein for treatment of brain tumor, BE.EP.DR

Abstract

Monoclonal antibodies represent an important class of biopharmaceuticals with a wide therapeutic application, especially against cancer. Bevacizumab, a monoclonal antibody to be used in this study, was recently approved for the treatment of glioblastomas. It acts by preventing the process of angiogenesis which accompanies tumor tissue and in combination with cytotoxic drugs can reduce the tumor size. However, like other drugs of proteinaceous nature, formulations of antibodies represent a major challenge in both technological and biopharmaceutical aspects. The low physicochemical stability in formulations and biological fluids as well as the low bioavailability and immunogenic potential of these molecules generate the need for developing new strategies to circumvent these problems. The nasal route, in addition to having suitable characteristics for the administration of proteins, has generated considerable interest as a route to reach the central nervous system. The nanostructured systems with mucoadhesive capacity are also a valuable strategy for mucosal administration of biopharmaceuticals. Thus, combining the anatomical advantages that allow a direct passage of drugs from the nasal cavity to the brain with the use of chitosan-based nanocarriers, which can increase the permeation of macromolecules, this project aims to achieve a promising strategy for bevacizumab delivery into the brain for the treatment of glioblastomas.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

FERREIRA, LEONARDO M. B.; ALONSO, JOVAN D.; KIILL, CHARLENE P.; FERREIRA, NATALIA N.; BUZZA, HILDE H.; MARTINS DE GODOI, DENIS R.; DE BRITTO, DOUGLAS; ASSIS, ODILIO BENEDITO G.; SERAPHIM, THIAGO V.; BORGES, JULIO CESAR; GREMIAO, MARIA PALMIRA D. Exploiting supramolecular interactions to produce bevacizumab-loaded nanoparticles for potential mucosal delivery. EUROPEAN POLYMER JOURNAL, v. 103, p. 238-250, JUN 2018. Web of Science Citations: 3.