Polymersomes development aiming at the co-encapsulation of drugs for application in cancer therapy

Abstract

The release of drugs from nanostructures like polymersomes (Ps), represents a promising alternative for cancer treatment. Aiming in major effectiveness of suppression of malignant tumors the application of combining therapy (co-therapy) has been largely applied and studied in late years. In this case, recent clinical studies had shown that treatments combining free drugs can increase the chance of tumor regression when compared with the individual use of each one. However, a relevant aspect that must be considered is related to the high dose-dependent toxicity of the use of co-therapy with free drugs. To overcome these obstacles, Ps are able to provide drug co-encapsulation (hydrophilic and hydrophobic) in a single nanostructure, due to its vesicular structure characteristics and not only improve molecule stability, but enhance the half-life of them in the bloodstream and, also, decrease toxicity and possibly has synergic effect in tumor cells. In this context, one of the objectives of this project is to understand the Ps development composed by poly (ethylene oxide-b-caprolactone) (PEG-PCL) and investigate the co-encapsulation (individual and simultaneous) of hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs, determinate encapsulation rate, and characterize physically and chemically the nanostructures obtained in presence and absence of the drugs. Also, study the stability of the formulations and the profile in vitro release of the drugs (individually and simultaneous) from Ps. (AU)