About
Summary
The project aims to develop a multicomponent hydrogel with elastic and hybrid structure obtained from polymeric mixtures consisting of chitosan and collagen, synthetic polymers and doxorubicin (DOX), to be used in the treatment of malignant cancers of the skin, as a new alternative for topical administration of chemotherapeutic drugs (CM). The hydrogel will be obtained in a single technological step without the addition of toxic chemical reagents, by crosslinking with electron beams (e-beam).
The cytotoxic and anti-proliferative effects of chemotherapeutically loaded hydrogels (CM) capable of delivering an amount of DOX equivalent to IC50 will be estimated by performing LIVE / DEAD and CCK-8 cell viability / cytotoxicity tests and compared to the cellular response to hydrogels. without CM. All these studies will be performed comparatively on melanoma cells and fibroblasts (as a non-tumor cell line).
The proposed hydrogel will be sterile and moderately crosslinked, properties provided by e- beam treatment, biocompatible and biodegradable, with adequate mechanical properties and rate of absorption and degradation controllable in physiological environments and environments similar to the tumor site. To ensure the targeted therapeutic effect, it will support cell viability and proliferation and facilitate the release of chemotherapeutic drugs (CMs) in a controllable manner.
General objective
The project’s general objective is to develop a multi-component hydrogel with elastic and hybrid structure obtained from polymeric mixtures consisting of chitosan and collagen, synthetic polymers (PVP, PEG/PEO, PAA), and doxorubicin (DOX), to increase the antitumoral effect.
The finished product will be obtained in a single technological step, without the addition of toxic chemical reagents, by crosslinking with e-beam.
Specific objectives
- O1. Realization by e-beam irradiation techniques of multicomponent hydrogels active in malignant melanoma treatment processes;
- O2. Understanding the influence of compositional and synthesis parameters on the structural, morphological, and stability properties of hydrogels;
- O3. Identification of mechanisms for biodegradation and release of active principles in vitro under conditions of physiological pH and simulated environment similar to tumor tissue;
- O4. Demonstration of the antitumor efficacy of multicomponent hydrogel by in vitro studies;