Periodic Reporting for period 2 - OXIGENATED (Hemoglobin based Protein Nanocarriers for Tumour Oxygenation and a more effective Photodynamic Therapy)
Reporting period: 2021-03-01 to 2024-08-31
A major drawback of Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) and other therapies for cancer treatment is the limited oxygen content, hypoxia, in tumour tissue. In PDT a photosensitizing molecule is delivered to malignant tissue to generate radical oxygen species (ROS). The presence of oxygen is fundamental for ROS generation, ultimately causing the death of tumour cells. This project aims to develop hemoglobin drug delivery nanocarriers in the nano and submicron range for simultaneous oxygen and photosensitizer delivery to tumour tissue for a more efficient Photodynamic Therapy (PDT). A more efficient PDT can lead to a more effective treatment of certain cancers improving life expectation and quality of life of patients
Hemoglobin-based nanocarriers (HOBCs) have been prepared by co-precipitation of hemoglobin with carbonates and surface coating with bovine serum albumin and alternatively through nanogel formation. It has been shown that transport oxygen complexed to hemoglobin while photosensitizer molecules have also been entrapped in the nanocarriers. Initial work has been performed in the modification of the carriers with homing peptides to target them to cancer cells. In vitro studies have also been started to study the uptake of HOBCs by cells, their intracellular fate, toxicity, and oxygen and photosensitizer delivery.
The OXIGENATED project has worked so far on the development of new nanoscale carriers for oxygen based on hemoglobin. The nanocarriers fabricated have potential applications on the treatment on cancer and can lead to more effective PDT therapies, which can have a positive impact on the life of patients, with a wide positive benefit for society. Moreover, OXIGENATED project has actively worked on exchanging skills and knowledge through secondments of Early Stage and Experienced Researchers, and through networking and training activities.