Researcher(s)
- Nikos Demetriou, Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware
Faculty Mentor(s)
- Emily Day, Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), is an aggressive breast cancer subtype, which accounts for approximately 20% of all breast cancer cases and leads to poor outcomes for patients. Unlike other subtypes of breast cancer, TNBC lacks the breast cancer-associated receptors that current therapies target, which makes TNBC difficult to treat. To improve the treatment of TNBC, therapeutic cargo can be encapsulated in nanoparticles (NPs), which exhibit improved tumor accumulation compared to freely administered drugs. Such NPs can be designed to either passively accumulate in tumors or they may be coated with antibodies or cell-derived biological membranes to enhance tumor delivery. Regardless of the specific surface functionalization, the underlying core NP must have the desired drug encapsulation and release kinetics. Here, we investigate the influence of polymer NP composition on the encapsulation and release of the chemotherapeutic doxorubicin (DOX). Specifically, we prepared NPs with different ratios of methoxy-poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (mPEG-PLGA) and PLGA to determine the ideal composition for further development as a targeted drug delivery system for TNBC.