Abstract

This thesis investigates the feasibility of utilizing biodegradable polymeric microspheres loaded with the anticancer drug 5-fluorouracil (5FU) and superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) to magnetically deliver the cancer therapeutic 5FU to a target tumor in the human body. The primary method of material loading consisted of a w/o/w double emulsion mechanism which 1) loads and protects 5FU in the inner water phase consisting of distilled water and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), 2) dispersed SPIONs in the biodegradable polymeric organic phase consisting of methylene chloride (MeCl2) for eventual magnetic transport, and 3) suspended these w/o emulsion droplets in an outer aqueous phase comprised of water and PVA and then evaporating the solvent by convection. This procedure produced dried double emulsion microspheres below 2 µm in diameter. They were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and magnetometry, which demonstrated their size and superparamagnetic properties. The encapsulation efficiency of 5FU into these polymeric microspheres was above 95%. Drug release of 5FU from dried double emulsion microspheres was significant over 63 days in water and phosphate buffered saline (PBS). Drug release was faster at 37 °C compared to room temperature (21 Â°C). The medium of PBS at pH 7.4 and 5.4 promoted faster release than distilled water at pH 7.0. Release was faster from PLGA than from PLA. Antibiotic potency of 5FU remained effective after drug release and degradation of carrier. Application of these microspheres in future clinical trials may present a noninvasive, low-risk method to treating malign tumors in nonresectable regions while demonstrating more effective results than systemic administration of chemotherapy. This research presents a significant innovation in therapeutic drug delivery technology for nonresectable cancerous tumors, particularly in the head and neck regions.

Degree

College and Department

Ira A. Fulton College of Engineering; Chemical Engineering

Rights

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