Nanodispensadores de fármacos antitumorales basados en nanotubos de carbonodiseño, evaluación y biocompatibilización

Resumo

In this PhD Thesis, we have studied the use of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as drug carrier to potentiate the effects of an anticancer drug, 5-Fluorouracil. Our goal was to block the proliferation of cancer cells at two different cell cycle phases, making the resistance phenomena of cancer cell more unlikely. We have demonstrated how CNTs potentiate the cytotoxic and antitumoral effect of 5-Fluorouracil when it is administered physisorbed on their surface. Unfortunately, the bio-persistence of CNTs, represent an issue that relapses their application in Nanomedicine. So, we have studied as the oxidative pre-treatments improve the degradation of CNTs in macrophages. In vivo studies showed that intratumoral injection of oxidized CNTs triggered ca. 30 % solid melanoma tumour growth-inhibitory effects while displaying signs of biodegradation at the tumoral tissue 15 days after the therapy has been applied. We last goal was the design of a multi-therapies delivery system, taking advantage of the properties of the CNTs. This nanoencapsulation system is based on a core of spherical mesoporous silica, covered by biodegradable CNTs, that achieves all the requirements of a good drug delivery system.