Dissolving microneedles for nonmelanoma skin cancer and melanoma treatments with PDT and SDT: basic studies and pre-clinical experiments

• Grant number: 23/04209-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor
• Start date: August 01, 2023
• End date: June 25, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Biomedical Engineering - Bioengineering
• Principal Investigator: Vanderlei Salvador Bagnato
• Grantee: Michelle Barreto Requena
• Supervisor: Vladislav Yakovlev
• Host Institution: Instituto de Física de São Carlos (IFSC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Texas A&M University, United States
• Associated to the scholarship: 22/10860-6 - USE OF DISSOLVING MICRONEEDLES CONTAINING AMINOLEVULINIC ACID FOR PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY, BP.PD

Abstract

The use of dissolving microneedles (MNs) has been explored for optimization in photodynamic therapy (PDT) in our project in Brazil. The studies involve fabrication methods, mechanical characterization (strength and insertion ability), application in nonmelanoma skin cancer mice model, decontamination process using ozone, and a pilot clinical trial. However, basic studies considering MNs structure and dissolution still are necessary, such as the application in melanoma model that allow exploring MNs both as a drug delivery system and a light guide. Specifically, concerning the melanoma mice model, this internship aims to test MNs associated with ultrasound to perform sonodynamic therapy (SDT) as well. Both structural and tissue interaction aspects shall be explored. Brillouin spectroscopy will be used to evaluate microstructure in polymer complex aiming to obtain further information concerning drug homogeneity in the array, and how methods to fabricate MNs can interfere with the mechanical resistance. Besides that, using both photoacoustic spectroscopy and imaging approaches will complete the analysis of PpIX distribution in vivo. Therefore, during this internship, we propose to investigate dissolving MNs for nonmelanoma and melanoma skin cancer treatments with PDT and SDT, involving basic studies and pre-clinical experiments. (AU)