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Page 48
Volume 3
Journal of Pharmacology and Medicinal Chemistry
Nanomedicine 2019
Biotechnology 2019
May 20-21, 2019
May 20-21, 2019 London, UK
4
th
World Biotechnology CONGRESS
Nanomedicine and Nanotechnology
4
th
International Conference on
&
Design, synthesis and validation of nano-drug delivery systems in fluorescent cancer
stem cell models
Petra Gener
Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium
M
etastatic spread to distal organs and progressive gain of chemo-resistance of advanced cancers are sustained by the presence
of Cancer Stem Cells (CSCs) within the tumor. Therefore, many advanced therapies in development, aim to eliminate CSCs
and thus prevent tumor growth and the appearance of metastases. Likewise, we developed polymeric nanoparticles loaded with
ZileutonTM, a potent inhibitor of CSCs. ZileutonTM as anti-CSC drug was chosen based on specific target selection using various
CSC fluorescent models, previously developed in our laboratory.
Drug delivery through nanoparticles has great potential to increase efficacy and reduce toxicity and adverse effects. In this context,
ZileutonTM nanoparticles effectively target CSCs, block their ability to form mammospheres and to invade in vitro, and do not
cause any toxicity in vivo, in healthy animals. Besides, our nanoparticles reduce number of CSCs within the tumor and effectively
block the Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs) in the blood stream.
However, therapies seeking for elimination of CSCs in order to prevent tumor growth and the appearance of metastases have an
important limitation, because the eliminated CSCs are constantly replaced by new cells with "stem" phenotype, thanks to their
considerable plasticity. Indeed, eliminated CSCs are being constantly replaced by a process of de-differentiation (reversion) of
“bulk” tumor cells in order to ensure the propagation of the tumor after treatment. As a result, CSCs specific treatments have just
limited clinical success. We have thus successfully evaluated, the combination of polymeric nanoparticles with ZileutonTM and
the AbraxaneTM (Nab-PTX) nanoparticles used in clinic, that eliminate “bulk” tumor. This cocktail represents an ideal option to
abrogate tumor and metastatic growth, avoiding CSC reversion (dynamic phenotype).
petra.gener@vhir.orgJ Pharmacol Med Cheml, Volume 3