Curcumin-coated iron oxide nanoparticles as a therapy tool for breast Cancer

• Grant number: 22/05419-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: August 01, 2022
• End date: July 31, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Biomedical Engineering - Medical Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Leandro José Raniero
• Grantee: Virginia Rezende Ferreira
• Host Institution: Instituto de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento (IP&D). Universidade do Vale do Paraíba (UNIVAP). São José dos Campos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

In recent years, it has been found that among all types of cancer, breast cancer is the most incident and fatal among women. With early diagnosis, treatment becomes more effective, increasing patient survival. For this reason, several types of diagnoses and therapies are used for the detection and treatment of cancer. In contrast, there are still no essentially efficient methods against this malignancy. The use of nanotechnology to detect neoplasms is under study and some results have highlighted its potential. Iron oxide nanoparticles (Iron Oxide Nanoparticles-IONPs) have a high biocompatibility and stability factor, a wide field of applications in the medical field, affordable prices, and unique physical, chemical, and magnetic properties. In addition, changing its surface can increase its properties and performance. Therefore, this scientific initiation project aims to synthesize IONPs through the chemical co-precipitation method, study stabilization methods and the functionalization of IONPs with curcumin (IONPs@curcumin), determine the influence of the pH of the medium, evaluate the influence of concentration of functionalized curcumin in the colloidal stability of the solution, perform cytotoxicity tests on the cell line MDA-MB-468 and perform photodynamic therapy using IONPs@curcumin.(AU)