Impact of nanoplatforms allied to nitric oxide and chemotherapeutics on cytotoxicity and sensitization of resistant tumor cells

• Grant number: 20/03646-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): November 01, 2020
• Status: Discontinued
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Physical-Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Amedea Barozzi Seabra
• Grantee: Joana Claudio Pieretti
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas (CCNH). Universidade Federal do ABC (UFABC). Ministério da Educação (Brasil). Santo André , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 21/12705-5 - Assessment of the antitumoral properties of nitric oxide and chemotherapeutic releasing nanoparticles in liver cancer cells, BE.EP.DR

Abstract

Currently, Cancer represents the second disease with the highest mortality rate worldwide, demonstrating challenges regarding the diagnosis and the treatment. In recent decades, Cancer treatments have improved, but they still face difficulties related to high biodistribution, due to the non-specificity, and also the growing tumor resistance to these conventional treatments. In this scenario, nanotechnology has gained space in the field of Medicine by enabling the design of materials that provide efficient, targeted applications with minimal side effects. This area has grown exponentially worldwide, with notable financial investment which have translated into the commercialization of more than 100 FDA approved products with applications in NanoMedicine. Among several nanoparticles with applications in this area, porous nanoparticles, such as zinc oxides and silicon (ZnO and SiO2), consist of a potential strategy for an efficient delivery of drugs with reduced side effects. A few years ago, the use of nanotechnology in Cancer was based only on a targeted treatment using drug-loaded nanoparticles. However, it has been increasing a simultaneous multi-drug delivery strategy, in order to sensitize tumor cells, especially cells resistant to current therapeutics. In this sense, a combination of chemotherapeutics with nanoparticles functionalized with S-nitrosochitosan, chemically modified chitosan polymer for nitric oxide (NO) release, consists of an innovative strategy that aims to sensitize tumor cells with low NO rates, potentializing the chemotherapy treatment. Thus, this project consists in the development of nanoparticles carrying chemotherapeutic agents functionalized with modified chitosan molecules, allowing the release of nitric oxide (NO), an endogenous signaling molecule, capable of sensitizing the tumor cells by several routes and, therefore, enabling a more effective treatment. Hybrid nanoparticles will be synthesized, functionalized and characterized by several techniques. In vitro antitumoral experiments will be carried out in order to investigate the potential and the different death pathways involved in the treatment employing the synthesized nanoparticles. Therefore, this project allows advances in the area of Cancer NanoMedicine combined with NO, generating scientific and technological contributions in the area of nanomaterials, NO, Biology and Medicine. (AU)

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)

PIERETTI, JOANA CLAUDIO; PELEGRINO, MILENA TREVISAN; BOUDIER, ARIANE; SEABRA, AMEDEA BAROZZI. Recent progress in the toxicity of nitric oxide-releasing nanomaterials. MATERIALS ADVANCES, v. 2, n. 23, OCT 2021. (19/07766-5, 18/08194-2, 20/03646-2)

NERES-SANTOS, RAQUEL SILVA; JUNHO, CAROLINA VICTORIA CRUZ; PANICO, KARINE; CAIO-SILVA, WELLINGTON; PIERETTI, JOANA CLAUDIO; TAMASHIRO, JULIANA ALMEIDA; SEABRA, AMEDEA BAROZZI; RIBEIRO, CESAR AUGUSTO JOAO; CARNEIRO-RAMOS, MARCELA SORELLI. Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Cardiorenal Syndrome 3: Renocardiac Effect of Vitamin C. CELLS, v. 10, n. 11, NOV 2021. (15/25541-0, 18/08194-2, 19/11077-0, 20/03646-2, 15/19107-5)

PELEGRINO, MILENA T.; PIERETTI, JOANA C.; LANGE, CAMILA NEVES; KOHATSU, MARCIO YUKIHIRO; FREIRE, BRUNA MOREIRA; BATISTA, BRUNO LEMOS; FINCHEIRA, PAOLA; TORTELLA, GONZALO R.; RUBILAR, OLGA; SEABRA, AMEDEA B.. Foliar spray application of CuO nanoparticles (NPs) and S-nitrosoglutathione enhances productivity, physiological and biochemical parameters of lettuce plants. JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY, v. 96, n. 8, p. 2185-2196, AUG 2021. (18/08194-2, 20/03646-2)