Multifunctional nanocellulose-based biomaterial for localized bone cancer treatment

• Grant number: 22/10487-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Master's degree
• Start date: January 10, 2023
• End date: July 06, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Chemical Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Liliane Maria Ferrareso Lona
• Grantee: Ana Carolina de Aguiar
• Supervisor: Pedro Lopes Granja
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia Química (FEQ). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Universidade do Porto (UP), Portugal
• Associated to the scholarship: 21/00980-1 - Synthesis of nanocellulose capsules for oral insulin administration, BP.MS

Abstract

Bone tumors are especially prevalent in children and adolescents and, if not treated early, they can lead teenagers to death. The main treatment options involve chemo-, radiation, and surgical therapy, and the major challenge that still exists in such approaches is the complete removal of the tumor cells, therefore avoiding postoperative recurrence and metastasis. In line with this challenge, as well as with the increasing demand for sustainable, functional biomaterials, this project aims to prepare and characterize a new biomaterial for bone tumor therapy based on a porous multifunctional lignocellulosic platform. Bioactive glass (BG) and drug-carrying polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) will be first prepared and then added to cellulose nanofibrils (CNF), producing highly porous CNF-based structure via three-dimensional (3D) printing. Biomineralized nanocellulose material is expected to optimally combine morphological and biological features for bone repair, while BG and NPs will act as localized therapy against cancer. The proposed multifunctional system will be comprehensively characterized as to its morphological, structural, and osteoconductive properties in order to better understand the structure-property relationships. Such information will allow to evaluate the potential of such biomaterial for bone tumor treatment. (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)

DE AGUIAR, ANA CAROLINA; FERREIRA, FILIPE V.; FELTRIN, FELIPE DA S.; LOPES, JOAO H.; TEODORO, KELCILENE B. R.; BERNARDO, MARCELA P.; GRANJA, PEDRO L.; LONA, LILIANE F.. Lightweight, high strength bioactive polysaccharide-based scaffold with potential to treat bone tumors. TISSUE ENGINEERING PART A, v. 29, n. 13-14, p. 2-pg., 2023-07-01. (22/10487-3)