Development of a multifunctional system with potential application for targeted bone cancer tumor therapy - osteosarcoma

• Grant number: 20/00598-7
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): September 01, 2020
• Effective date (End): August 31, 2021
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Biomedical Engineering - Bioengineering
• Principal researcher: João Henrique Lopes
• Grantee: Guilherme dos Santos Medeiros
• Home Institution: Divisão de Ciências Fundamentais (IEF). Instituto Tecnológico de Aeronáutica (ITA). Ministério da Defesa (Brasil). São José dos Campos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Here, we propose the development and characterization of a multifunctional system of mesoporous bioactive glass (MBG) nanospheres doped with Nb and Ga ions as carriers and controlled local drug delivery for targeted osteosarcoma tumor therapy. In this approach, MBGs are potential drug carriers for controlled and local drug delivery, while the ionic product from glasses plays a decisive role in ion therapy. The bioactive glass composition chosen as a guide for the preparation of niobium and gallium doped nanospheres was 58S bioactive glass: 60 SiO2, 36 CaO, 4 P2O5 (mol%). The use of bioactive glasses is strategic due to the recognized action in accelerating the chemical/biological processes associated with bone regeneration and the typical clinical treatment for osteosarcoma involves the removal of diseased bone tissue. The choice of niobium oxide (3 mol% - replacing P) to modify the composition of 58S is due to its ability to promote osteogenesis. The incorporation of gallium into the vitreous matrix (3 mol% - replacing Ca) is due to the exceptional anticancer activity of this element in ionic form for targeted tumor therapy. The choice for bioactive glass in the form of nanospheres is associated with the possibility of injecting nanoparticles directly into the tumor site, being easily phagocytized by cancer cells (small size 50-100 nm and spherical morphology). The presence of a hierarchical pore structure opens the possibility of anchoring anticancer drugs. Pure MBGs and Nb and Ga doped MBGs will be characterized for size distribution, chemical (composition and solubility) and structural properties by various analysis techniques. In addition, in vitro cell assays will be performed to evaluate tumor cell effectiveness and selectivity.