Project information
Liposome-Based Nanotherapeutics as an Advanced Strategy for Imaging and Treatment of Solid Tumors (New Liposomar Nanotherapeutics for Tumor Treatment)

One of the promising concepts of contemporary medicine is the assessment of patients on an individual level and the subsequent design of precision therapeutic approach (PTA). One of the promising PTAs is the design of lipid-based nanoparticles (LNPs) loaded with anti-tumor drugs generating drug-delivery theranostic nanoparticles (TNPs). Some of the compounds encapsulated into these LNPs can be either low molecular weight drugs (e. g. docetaxel) frequently used for cancer treatment or hydrophobic DNA intercalator ellipticine (5,11-dimethyl-6H-pyrido[4,3-b]carbazole) that is a promising candidate for the treatment of solid tumors. In addition, fluorescent labels will be incorporated into the structure of LNPs for imaging purposes and gadolinium for magnetic resonance guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS).

The aforementioned drug ellipticine is an alkaloid contained in the Apocyanaceae family of plants and is also a promising anti-tumor agent. It is known to treat mostly solid tumors such as osteolytic breast cancer metastases, kidney sarcoma and tumors of the brain, but also acts against myelodid leukemia (Stiborová et al., 2001). The molecular effects of ellipticine and its derivatives include DNA intercalation and topoisomerase II inhibition (Mitra, 2022). Ellipticine encapsulation into the LNP, synthesised by Prof. Andrew D. Miller and his team, appears as an elegant way to transport the drug inside the tumor and visualise it.

The aim of my master’s thesis is to evaluate in vitro and subsequent in vivo effects of these TNPs by methods of molecular biology and immunology. If successful, this method could have implications for the tumor treatment in the future.