Hydroxyapatite nanoparticles containing doxorubicin for application in cancer treatment

• Grant number: 23/16759-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: February 01, 2024
• End date: July 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Interdisciplinary Subjects
• Principal Investigator: Valtencir Zucolotto
• Grantee: Beatriz Giacomelli Rodrigues da Silva
• Host Institution: Instituto de Física de São Carlos (IFSC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The effectiveness of current treatments against lung cancer is limited, among other factors, by ineffective targeting, low solubility in water and rapid elimination of antineoplastics such as doxorubicin (DOX). Furthermore, the non-specificity of these bioactive molecules results in systemic side effects due to the toxicity they present in healthy cells in the body. To overcome these adversities, the use of nanoparticles (NPs), such as those based on hydroxyapatite (HA), has emerged as a promising option for delivering drugs more efficiently. Due to its high biocompatibility, biodegradability, capacity to load bioactive molecules and intrinsic photoluminescence, HA is an inorganic biomaterial with broad potential to be used in the diagnosis and therapy of various types of cancer, as well as in theragnostic applications. The present project aims at the synthesis and characterization of HA NPs loaded with DOX for application in the treatment of lung cancer. The structural, morphological and photoluminescent properties of the obtained NPs will be studied in detail. The colloidal stability and surface potential of the NPs will be analyzed, and the loading efficiency and release profile of the drug loaded into the NPs will be determined. With such analyses, we seek to contribute to the development of new nanocarrier systems with potential theragnostic applications.