Therapeutic Albumin Nanoparticles: SPARC Interactions and Cytotoxic Effects in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

• Grant number: 25/20071-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: November 01, 2025
• End date: October 31, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biochemistry - Chemistry of Macromolecules
• Principal Investigator: Alioscka Augusto Sousa
• Grantee: Matheus Abraão dos Santos
• Host Institution: Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São Paulo. São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 25/01716-7 - Albumin Nanoparticles in Cancer Nanomedicine: Optimizing Biocompatibility, Cellular Delivery, and Therapeutic Efficacy, AP.R

Abstract

Human serum albumin nanoparticles (HSA-PNPs) have emerged as promising nanocarriers for drug delivery, particularly in cancer therapy. Their advantages include ease of synthesis, versatility, biocompatibility, and interactions with SPARC - a glycoprotein overexpressed in the extracellular matrix of tumors. SPARC is associated with tumor aggressiveness and metastasis in certain cancers, making it a strategic target in nanomedicine. Although studies suggest that SPARC promotes tumor accumulation and therapeutic efficacy of HSA-PNPs, the interactions of these particles with SPARC, as well as their impact on endocytosis, remain poorly understood. Therefore, this project proposes systematic investigations to directly validate these interactions and elucidate their relationship with cellular internalization and therapeutic efficacy. As a model, SN-38-loaded HSA-PNPs and triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells will be used. This type of cancer accounts for up to 20% of breast cancer cases and is characterized by high mortality and elevated SPARC expression. The systematic investigation proposed in this project will provide critical insights for the development of more effective HSA-PNPs and targeted therapies for cancer.