Development of tribloc amphiphilic copolymer-based polymersomes for the encapsulation of tissue inhibitor of metalloprotease 3 (TIMP-3) as a therapeutic agent

• Grant number: 23/11967-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): April 01, 2024
• Effective date (End): March 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Biomedical Engineering - Bioengineering
• Principal Investigator: André Moreni Lopes
• Grantee: Mariana de Camargo Aranha
• Host Institution: Escola de Engenharia de Lorena (EEL). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Lorena , SP, Brazil

Abstract

TIMP proteins are a family of endogenous inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and its unbalance in the organism is associated with many pathological conditions, suggesting TIMPs as a potential therapeutic agent, in special for cancer treatment. In a context where biomolecules with therapeutic properties have gained significant visibility, one barrier to its application is the challenge of administration in the human organism, due to limitations such as degradation susceptibility, high immunogenicity and low bioavailability. To overcome these drawbacks, encapsulation of biomolecules in drug delivery systems (DDS) is an interesting alternative, highlighting polymersomes (Ps), self-assembled nanostructures based on amphiphilic block copolymers. Therefore, the present project aims to develop Ps formulations based on the triblock copolymer Pluronic L-121 for the encapsulation of TIMP-3, obtained by heterologous expression in Aspergillus nidulans. Thus, the project will investigate the development of Ps obtention protocol and the nanovesicles physical-chemical characterization. Furthermore, TIMP-3 encapsulation studies with Ps will be conducted, as weel as the evaluation of encapsulation parameters of the biomolecule.