Evaluation of the potential of gallic acid encapsulated in metal-organic frameworks funcionalized with cetuximabe in the treatment of Prostate Cancer

• Grant number: 18/17672-5
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): March 01, 2019
• Effective date (End): September 30, 2021
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Pharmacy - Pharmaceutical Technology
• Principal researcher: Marlus Chorilli
• Grantee: Gilmar Hanck da Silva
• Home Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas (FCFAR). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araraquara. Araraquara , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 19/14124-0 - Biocompatible surface modifications of the ZIF-8 metal-organic framework for use as drug delivery systems, BE.EP.DR

Abstract

Prostate Cancer is one of the most common neoplasms and one of the leading causes of cancer-related death in men in Brazil and worldwide, being a serious public health problem. One of the factors responsible for the aggressiveness of this neoplasm is the overexpression of the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR). In this context, a promising and attractive strategy for the treatment is the incorporation of gallic acid (GA), a natural phenolic acid, in MOFs (Metal-Organic Frameworks) of ZIF-8 (Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework), which are nanocarriers with high capacity of charge and which presents in its structure zinc ions, deficient component in the diseased prostate. These systems can be functionalized with cetuximab (CXB), a monoclonal antibody that binds to the EGFR receptor, allowing direct delivery of the GA. The developed system will be physico-chemically characterized and evaluated in vitro by cytotoxicity assays for two cell lines, PC-3 and DU 145, and in vivo to evaluate the antitumor activity in a xenographic model for Prostate Cancer. Thus, the present study aims at the development of a nanocarrier system containing GA encapsulated in ZIF-8 functionalized with CXB, in order to evaluate the drug-antibody synergism in the potentialization of the effect in the treatment of Prostate Cancer. (AU)