New polymeric delivery systems of antitumor platinum coordination compounds
Coordinator: Assoc. Prof. Neli Koseva, Ph.D. Tel: 00359 2 979 6630 e-mail: koseva_AT_old.polymer.bas.bg
Funded by: National Science Fund of Bulgaria Grant agreement: DO02-198/2008 Duration: 2008-2011 Partners: Institute of Organic Chemistry with Centre of Phytochemistry at BAS, Faculty of Chemistry at Sofia University, Faculty of Pharmacy at Medical University-Sofia and the Centre of Polymer and Carbon Materials, Polish Academy of Sciences
Abstract: The proposed research project is in the priority theme “New Materials and Nanothechnologies” but also aligns with “Biotechnologies, Food and Health” priority. It is an interdisciplinary collaborative project that brings together the expertise and resources from five partner organizations. The main objective of the proposal is development of pharmacologically active polymeric delivery systems incorporating antitumor platinum compounds. These are new modalities, and may be classified as polymer-drug conjugates or polyion complex aggregates. They are engineered at molecular level by careful selection of the components – the polymer and the individual active agent to be loaded accounting for their intrinsic characteristics, as well as for the expected combination of newly obtained properties of the invented material. The efforts will be focused on elaboration of feasible procedures for preparing optimal formulations and their characterization. In addition, a sonochemical method for fabrication of proteinaceous micro/nanocapsules will be developed. It is expected these polymer therapeutic systems to display advantageous characteristics such as site specific passive targeting based on EPR effect due to their size in the nano region, controlled manner of drug release leading to decreased toxic side effects and improved drug efficiency. In vitro and in vivo biological investigations are envisaged to assess the practical viability and therapeutic potential of the systems against cancer which is identified as one of the major causes of mortality in Europe. The project is in a fast developing interdisciplinary research area and affords opportunities for professional development of young scientists. Our intensions are to build a creative and dynamic team capable of achieving goals and generating sustainable results.