Biomimetic nanoparticles for targeted drug delivery in glioblastoma therapy

• Grant number: 24/21218-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor
• Start date: May 01, 2025
• End date: April 30, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Physics - Condensed Matter Physics
• Principal Investigator: Valtencir Zucolotto
• Grantee: Raquel Riciati do Couto Vilela
• Supervisor: Flavia Sousa
• Host Institution: Instituto de Física de São Carlos (IFSC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: University of Groningen, Netherlands
• Associated to the scholarship: 23/05755-1 - Biomimetic nanoparticles coated with cell membranes: from design to diagnosis and therapy of Glioblastoma Multiforme (GMB), BP.PD

Abstract

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most advanced and aggressive type of primary brain tumor, and the development of effective therapies remains a pharmaceutical challenge and a critical unmet medical need. One of the main obstacles in GBM therapy is the blood-brain barrier (BBB), a highly selective barrier that prevents many drugs, especially large therapeutic agents, from reaching the brain. In addition, the low stability and lack of specificity of some chemotherapy drugs further limit their absorption and reduce the overall effectiveness of the treatment. This project seeks to address these challenges by developing innovative SiO2 nanoparticles coated with membranes isolated from T lymphocytes and GBM cells. This approach leverages the natural ability of T cells to cross the BBB and the homotypic targeting properties of cancer cell membranes to create biomimetic systems with enhanced BBB penetration and precise tumor targeting. Integrating temozolomide (TMZ), a standard chemotherapy for GBM, into the best-performing systems, will further improve therapeutic outcomes by providing targeted and efficient drug release. Conducted at the University of Groningen under Prof. Dr. Flávia Sousa's guidance, this research will also explore how these systems interact with an aging BBB using an in vitro model provided by Prof. Dr. Marina Trombetta Lima. Since GBM primarily affects older adults, understanding age-related changes in the BBB is crucial for developing effective therapies.