Effects of gemcitabine and paclitaxel delivery by cell membrane-derived nanoparticles on pancreatic cancer cells and monocytes

• Grant number: 19/18933-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: October 01, 2019
• End date: November 30, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering - Nonmetallic Materials
• Principal Investigator: Valtencir Zucolotto
• Grantee: João Victor Brandão Quitiba
• Host Institution: Instituto de Física de São Carlos (IFSC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Cancer is one of the most recurrent chronic diseases in the Brazilian and worldwide population. In this scenario, areas like nanomedicine and immunotherapy have the most satisfactory clinical results. Currently, studies that encompass their knowledge create new modalities of therapies able to reduce tumor expansion and adverse effects of treatments. As one of the main factors favoring the growth and expansion of neoplastic cells is their ability to modulate the tumor microenvironment and evade immunovigilance, the present project was formulated to develop nanocarriers for the transport of antineoplastic agents into tumor cells and modulation of the main cells of the immune system. Considering that nanocarriers can simultaneously delivery more than one chemotherapeutic agent, both to tumor cells and immunocompetent cells, we synthesized lipid nanoparticles with the major components from the pancreatic tumor cell membrane (CAPAN-1) conjugated with two first-line drugs (Gemcitabine and Paclitaxel). Thus, the present project aims to contribute to the development of a nanocarrier for the transport of immunomodulatory agents, both inside tumor cells and immunocompetent cells. As expected results, we aim to increase the immunogenicity of tumor cells and positively modulate the action of antigen presenting cells.