Development and characterization of cationic liposomes for the delivery of genetic vaccines via intramuscular injection for breast cancer treatment.

• Grant number: 24/21774-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: July 01, 2025
• End date: June 30, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Pharmacy - Pharmaceutical Technology
• Principal Investigator: Marcela Tavares Luiz
• Grantee: Julia Maria Costa
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas (FCFAR). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araraquara. Araraquara , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Breast cancer has a high worldwide prevalence and is the leading cause of cancer-related death among women. The treatment approach depends on the tumor's molecular subtype (luminal A, luminal B, HER2, and triple-negative) and may include surgical procedures, radiotherapy, and systemic therapy. Despite advances in systemic treatments over recent decades, the development of adverse effects and mechanisms of drug resistance continues to pose challenges in breast cancer therapy.In this context, immunotherapy has been investigated to reduce the immunosuppression observed within the tumor microenvironment, thereby enabling immune system cells to induce tumor cell death. Among immunotherapies, plasmid DNA (pDNA) vaccines encoding tumor-associated antigens (TAA) have shown potential in inducing the expression of these antigens by dendritic cells, promoting the activation of cytotoxic and helper T lymphocytes.To achieve genetic transfection of dendritic cells, nano-structured delivery systems such as liposomes are under investigation for transporting pDNA, leading to what are known as nanovaccines.Thus, this project aims to develop and characterize cationic liposomes as a platform for intramuscular administration of pDNA vaccines. The liposomes will be prepared using the lipid film hydration method followed by ultrasonication, and evaluated in terms of their physicochemical properties (size, morphology, zeta potential, and pDNA complexation efficiency with the gene encoding the green fluorescent protein-GFP), cytotoxicity, internalization capacity, and GFP expression in antigen-presenting cells.