Phthalocyanine-biopolymeric nanoparticle delivery systems for cancer photodynamic therapy

Descripción del proyecto

Nanopartículas para la administración de agentes de terapia fotodinámica

La terapia fotodinámica (TFD o PDT en sus siglas inglesas) es un tratamiento mínimamente invasivo que combina fármacos fotosensibilizantes, oxígeno y luz para matar las células cancerosas. Se trata de un método selectivo con efectos secundarios mínimos sobre los tejidos normales, que ofrece una alternativa prometedora a la quimioterapia habitual. A pesar de que fue aprobada para uso clínico hace veinte años, el uso de la TFD sigue siendo limitado en la mayoría de los tipos de cáncer. El proyecto BIOnanoPDT, financiado con fondos europeos, propone incorporar la ftalocianina como fármaco fotosensibilizante en nanopartículas poliméricas biodegradables funcionalizadas para atacar las células tumorales. Esto ayudará a abordar los problemas asociados con la selectividad, la agregación y la baja solubilidad en agua de los fármacos fotosensibilizantes, lo que mejorará la aplicación de la TFD en el hospital.

Objetivo

According to the World Health Organization cancer was responsible for approximated 9.6 million deaths in 2018 what is the reason of being one of the biggest civilizational health problem, just behind the heart diseases. The global objective of interdisciplinary BIOnanoPDT project is to develop novel biodegradable phthalocyanine (Pc)-polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) which enhance cancer photodynamic therapy (PDT).
Up to now, there is no ideal therapy for cancer treatment but among the others PDT presents several advantages, e.g. it is a selective treatment with less secondary effects than other therapies. This promising therapy combines three components: photosensitizer (PS), light and oxygen. 20 years ago PDT was approved by Food and Drug Admnistration as a clinical protocol for cancer treatment but it still have limitations to use it in all types of cancer. The development of new powerful PSs, which specifically target cancer cells, and can more deeply penetrate tissue allowing to treat large tumors is still a challenge.
Phthalocyanines (Pcs) are one of the most promising second generation PSs and meet many requirements for being ideal PSs. Unfortunately, very often Pcs are hydrophobic species and undergo self-aggregation in aqueous solutions, which drastically reduces their photosensitizing efficiency. In BIOnanoPDT project the limitations of Pcs will be overcame by tailoring their properties in terms of singlet oxygen generation and by incorporating them with polymer NPs which could improve their photophysical properties, selectivity for targeted tissues by surface modification, eliminate aggregation of the PSs and their low water solubility. Additionally, it can enhance the treatment by increasing the blood circulation and selective accumulation in tumor cells.
The BIOnanoPDT project will bring many innovations to the current cancer research by novel Pc-polymer NP hybrids for cancer PDT which will be an attractive alternative for conventional drugs.