PROJECT | PN-iii-TE22-Baldea

SUMMARY

ONCOMACH project proposes the elaboration of new synthetic nanoplatforms consisting of magnetic nanoclusters linked with a chemotherapeutic drug, doxorubicin (DOX-MNC) with improved hyperthermia capabilities and to thoroughly test the toxicity, cellular uptake and magneto-chemotherapy capabilities of the DOX-MNC in vitro on normal and tumor cell lines to obtain a suitable exposure protocol and to understand whether secondary effects should be expected when transitioning to in vivo or clinical studies :

Specific objectives:

1. Synthesis and characterization of the MNC and DOX-MNC

2. Toxicity assessment and cellular uptake of the MNC and DOX-MNC in normal and cancerous human cell lines

3. Evaluation of the magneto-chemotherapeutic effects induced by MNC and DOX-MNC in normal and cancerous human cell lines, model cell pellets

4. Evaluation of the magneto-chemotherapuutic effects induced by selected DOX-MNC in 3D models of cancer in vitro.

Estimated results:

1. Biofunctionalized MNCs with catecholamine units (size < 200 nm), with colloidal stability and high values of saturation magnetization.

2. Biofunctionalized DOX-MNCs with high magnetization and colloidal stability.

3. Laboratory scale methodology for synthesis and characterization of the DOX-MNC.

4. Report about the assessment of biocompatibility of MNCs and MNCs-DOX.

5. Experimental protocol for MH studies.