Evaluation of tumor growth and antiangiogenic activity of pH responsive drug delivery systems containing bevacizumab: in vivo studies

• Grant number: 15/04734-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Master's degree
• Start date: May 01, 2015
• End date: July 31, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Pharmacy
• Principal Investigator: Maria Palmira Daflon Gremião
• Grantee: Natália Noronha Ferreira Naddeo
• Supervisor: Maria de Fátima Monginho Baltazar
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas (FCFAR). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araraquara. Araraquara , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Universidade do Minho (UMinho), Portugal
• Associated to the scholarship: 13/21824-1 - Ph responsive hydrogels as potential drug delivery system for bevacizumab administration, BP.MS

Abstract

Angiogenesis process plays an important role in tumor growth, invasion and metastasis. Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) appears as a key in pathological situations involving neovascularization. Bevacizumab (BVZ) is a monoclonal antibody that acts against angiogenesis process which accompanies tumor tissue, resulting in inhibition of necessary supply for tumor cells development. Formulations containing antibodies represent a major challenge from a technological as biopharmaceutical point of view according their low physical and chemical stability in the formulations and biological fluids, low bioavailability and immunogenic potential, factors that requires the research for strategies to circumvent these problems. In this sense, localized therapy may allow high local concentrations and avoid technological problems relating to the stability of these agents, might reducing side effects and the need for high administration frequencies. Calcium alginate hydrogels are biocompatible systems able to interact ionically with BVZ, especially in acidic pH, like on tumor region. Thus, the use of these systems may provide an appropriate profile release of the drug across the physiological conditions of the region. During the probationary period at the Minho University, therapeutic efficacy of alginate hydrogels containing BVZ will be evaluated against biological systems using in vitro and in vivo models. (AU)