Cancer-induced inflammation represents a common feature that characterizes this disease independently from the tissues affected. Tumor microenvironment acquires peculiar differences from the physiological state that can enable specific targeting to the unhealthy site. Our body develops the ability to recognize and target inflammation through circulating white blood cells. This ability is very pronounced in cancer;a significant portion of the microenvironment is composed by infiltrating leukocytes. Nanomedicine came to forefront of cancer research in response to the rising needs to enhance drug targeting. Specifically, nanomedicine made possible the development of carriers adept at formulating drugs and providing a foundation available for the functionalization of targeted molecules in the hope of achieving selective accumulation within the tumor. Unfortunately, the biobarriers that regulate the defense mechanisms of our body from foreign agents also impede the delivery of nanocarriers attempting to target the tumor mass and thus limits their circulation and, effectively their clinical translation. Our efforts to create an efficient nano-based treatment were unsuccessful as our knowledge of the system was inadequate to face its complexity. Recently, we demonstrated that by using a bio-camouflaging approach we can synthesize hybrid, transendothelial migrating particles in vitro through the development of coatings derived from freshly isolated and purified infiltrating leukocyte cellular membranes. These Leukolike Vectors (LLV) combine the synergism of leukocyte qualities with the properties of nanocarriers.
Aims - In order to evaluate the promise of this novel delivery platform in vivo, we intend to optimize our strategy through the following independent specific aims: 1) Improvement of LLV stability under shear stress forces, 2) Optimization and modulation of LLV coating quality 3) Evaluation of LLV therapeutic efficacy. Significance- The exploitation of the transfer of multiple leukocyte receptor in their active state on the particle's surface can increase the accumulation of the drug in the cancer microenvironment and decrease the side effects due to unspecific distribution. This study will set the foundation for the development of platforms capable of selectively targeting several types of tumors.

Public Health Relevance

New effective approaches for cancer therapy are urgently needed. The aim of this study is to develop an innovative system to increase tumor targeting and therapeutic efficacy. This project will yield great benefits for future drug delivery platform developments that aim to improve chemotherapeutic biodistribution in cancer.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Exploratory/Developmental Grants (R21)
Project #
1R21CA173579-01A1
Application #
8584213
Study Section
Drug Discovery and Molecular Pharmacology Study Section (DMP)
Program Officer
Fu, Yali
Project Start
2013-07-01
Project End
2015-06-30
Budget Start
2013-07-01
Budget End
2014-06-30
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2013
Total Cost
$171,281
Indirect Cost
$62,531
Name
Methodist Hospital Research Institute
Department
Type
DUNS #
185641052
City
Houston
State
TX
Country
United States
Zip Code
77030
Molinaro, Roberto; Corbo, Claudia; Livingston, Megan et al. (2017) Inflammation and Cancer: In Medio Stat Nano. Curr Med Chem :
Corbo, Claudia; Molinaro, Roberto; Parodi, Alessandro et al. (2016) The impact of nanoparticle protein corona on cytotoxicity, immunotoxicity and target drug delivery. Nanomedicine (Lond) 11:81-100
Molinaro, R; Corbo, C; Martinez, J O et al. (2016) Biomimetic proteolipid vesicles for targeting inflamed tissues. Nat Mater 15:1037-46
Palomba, R; Parodi, A; Evangelopoulos, M et al. (2016) Biomimetic carriers mimicking leukocyte plasma membrane to increase tumor vasculature permeability. Sci Rep 6:34422
Corbo, Claudia; Molinaro, Roberto; Taraballi, Francesca et al. (2016) Effects of the protein corona on liposome-liposome and liposome-cell interactions. Int J Nanomedicine 11:3049-63
Evangelopoulos, Michael; Parodi, Alessandro; Martinez, Jonathan O et al. (2016) Cell source determines the immunological impact of biomimetic nanoparticles. Biomaterials 82:168-77
Khaled, Sm Z; Cevenini, Armando; Yazdi, Iman K et al. (2016) One-pot synthesis of pH-responsive hybrid nanogel particles for the intracellular delivery of small interfering RNA. Biomaterials 87:57-68
Molinaro, Roberto; Boada, Christian; Del Rosal, Guillermo Medrano et al. (2016) Vascular Inflammation: A Novel Access Route for Nanomedicine. Methodist Debakey Cardiovasc J 12:169-174
Chiappini, C; De Rosa, E; Martinez, J O et al. (2015) Biodegradable silicon nanoneedles delivering nucleic acids intracellularly induce localized in vivo neovascularization. Nat Mater 14:532-9
Chiappini, Ciro; Martinez, Jonathan O; De Rosa, Enrica et al. (2015) Biodegradable nanoneedles for localized delivery of nanoparticles in vivo: exploring the biointerface. ACS Nano 9:5500-5509

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