Abstract 3707: Design and characterization of a double packaged system for localized drug delivery for the treatment of cancers

Abstract

Abstract This research aims at developing a drug delivery system that will provide a plethora of benefits such as cost effectiveness, reduction of toxicity and a control over the release of chemotherapeutic drugs in brain and ovarian cancer patients. We have designed a model drug delivery system consisting of non-ionic surfactant vesicles (niosomes) packaged within a biodegradable, temperature and pH sensitive hydrogel (chitosan) network. Optimization of the release rates were accomplished by altering the condition of its two components, chitosan and niosomes. Two main cancer drugs, Paclitaxel and Carboplatin, were used for encapsulation. It was found that medium molecular weight chitosan with a crosslinker: chitosan ratio of 4:1, which corresponded to a pH of 7.4, resulted in the finest controlled release. Surface characteristics, such as the interaction between the niosomes and chitosan were determined using Surface Forces Apparatus. The system was also tested in-vivo in mice models, where the success of the drug delivery has been measured by measuring the drug concentrations of the mice blood with respect to time and by analyzing shrinking effects in induced cancer tumors in mice. Xenogen was used to visualize the release of drugs in-vivo. Release rates of this system have been compared with other delivery methods. Our results will help in the development of low cost and improved methods for drug delivery with applications to brain tumors and intracavitary ovarian cancer treatments. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3707.