Keywords

tumors, drug delivery, nano-polymeric carrier, chemotherapy

Abstract

Our overall research goal is to alleviate the severe side effects of chemotherapy while enhancing the effectiveness of the treatment by localizing the delivery of anti-cancer drugs to the cancer tissue only. To this end we are synthesizing ultrasonically-activated delivery systems that can control drug delivery in space and time. Ultrasound (US) is non-invasive (no surgery required) and can be focused on the specific tissue to be treated. Our past research has developed a nano-sized polymeric drug carrier that sequesters the therapeutic drug, such as Doxorubicin (Dox), within the carrier and releases the drug upon insonation by ultrasound. This drug-containing carrier can be injected systemically into the blood stream; ultrasound is focused only on the tumor; and as the blood carries the delivery device through the ultrasonic field in the tumor, the drug is released there. We have shown this technology to be effective in treating colon tumors in a rat model, but may questions remain to be answered to optimize chemotherapy with this delivery system. In this work, we investigated the reduction in tumor size in a rat model of colorectal carcinoma [1] using ultrasound of 20 kHz applied to drug delivered with or without the acoustically active drug carrier. We found that the drug carrier is required to produce a reduction in tumor growth rate.

Original Publication Citation

Pitt, W.G., Husseini, G.A., Roeder, B.L, Odgerel, B., and Jones, P., "Nano-Polymeric Carrier Influences Ultrasonic Drug Delivery to Tumors", 8th World Biomaterials Congress, 352, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, May 28 - June 1, 28