Multifunctional peptide-mimetic material for controlled drug delivery to tumours

Abstract

Doxorubicin is a broad-spectrum anti-cancer drug that is dedicated to treating cancers such as neuroblastoma, breast cancer, and prostate cancer. Overcoming patient medication adherence concerns and complex drug dose protocols associated with present therapy, particularly a commitment to daily tablet usage, is critical to solving the global cancer issue. A practical and effective long-acting formulation to deliver drugs over a sustained period is required. Through structural alteration, doxorubicin can be covalently linked to the peptoid-D-peptide sequence. The Michael addition process binds the doxorubicin-maleimide derivative to the peptoid-peptide. The development of nanofiber networks from the hydrogelator precursor is triggered by enzymatic transformation, which is a natural biological process. After a dephosphorylation event mediated by alkaline phosphatase, the precursor can self-assemble to create a red stable hydrogel. This hydrogel might keep drug release sustained, controlled and have a powerful anticancer impact. This study has the potential to serve as an injectable hydrogel for therapeutic applications as a new strategy for building a drug system of covalently bonding doxorubicin and peptoid-D-peptide.

Thesis embargoed until 31 December 2027.

Date of Award	Dec 2022
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Queen's University Belfast
Supervisor	Garry Laverty (Supervisor), Jonathan Coulter (Supervisor) & Sreekanth Pentlavalli (Supervisor)