Engineering of Nanomaterials for Cancer Therapy

Abstract

The therapeutic efficacy of numerous anti-cancer drugs is often compromised by premature degradation or insufficient bioavailability during oral or intravenous administration. Addressing these limitations, targeted drug delivery to cancer sites has emerged as a promising approach. This thesis explores the potential of carbon nano-onions (CNOs) as drug carriers, focusing on their synthesis, supramolecular chemistry, chemical functionalisation, and applications in targeted drug delivery. The introduction provides a comprehensive overview of CNOs, in the scope of drug-delivery applications. Existing research on CNOs, particularly their noncovalent functionalisation, is discussed and presented in perspective of their potential as nanocarriers. A critical analysis of the findings underscores the benefits of functionalising CNOs for drug delivery applications, including enhanced aqueous dispersibility, biocompatibility, and drug-loading, all while preserving their inherent physicochemical properties. Research presented in this thesis encompasses the targeted delivery of gemcitabine to CD44 receptor-overexpressing pancreatic cancer cells using hyaluronic acid-functionalised CNOs, and the use of CNOs as nanocarriers for targeted delivery of doxorubicin to folate receptor overexpressing cancer cells. These studies demonstrate the potential of CNOs as versatile platforms for targeted drug delivery, with the ability to be tailored for specific cancer types and treatment strategies. The thesis emphasises the promise of CNOs for advancing cancer therapies. The demonstration of CNOs as effective and non-toxic drug carriers for targeted cancer therapy serves as a valuable foundation for further exploration and optimisation of carbon nanoparticle (CNP)-based nanocarriers, ultimately pushing the boundaries of drug delivery systems and improving patient outcomes. Challenges associated with the use of CNPs as nanocarriers are also discussed, outlining the scope for further investigation.

Michał Bartkowski

Postdoctoral Researcher

Funded by Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) - Grant ID 2/FFP-A/11067