Researchers from Kazan Federal University have studied the possibility of using the bacterial pigment prodigiosin for cancer therapy

Effective and safe delivery of antitumor agents is one of the main problems in cancer treatment. In this regard, the development of nanotechnological targeted drug delivery systems is an urgent task. In 2023, Ekaterina Naumenko, leading researcher of Institute of fundamental medicine and biology, Kazan Federal University, received a grant from the Russian Science Foundation (grant number 23-25-00334) to implement a project aimed at creating a methodology for targeted delivery of drugs with antitumor activity by forming complex nanoscale systems. According to the authors, the developed delivery system based on natural mineral nanotubes will increase the effectiveness of chemotherapeutic treatment of cancer. During the project, nanocontainers loaded with an antitumor drug, prodigiosin, were created. The selectivity of the effect of hybrid nanocomplexes was carried out using several strategies, one of which is realized due to the selective activity of prodigiosin against cells with different proliferation potential. Tubular nanocontainers based on the mineral halloysite with controlled stoppers on the distal sections of the nanotubes were created. This technique allowed to control the release of encapsulated drugs inside cells. As part of the project, the processes of penetration of nanosized drug delivery systems were studied in detail using cell lines and model multicellular structures simulating malignant and normal tissues of the body. The project has the potential for further research and in the future the authors plan to conduct preclinical studies.

Kazan Federal University
Kremlevskaya, 18
Tatarstan Republic,
Kazan
420133
EANaumenko@kpfu.ru

Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University (full name - Federal State Autonomous Educational Institution of Higher Education "Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University", Tatar: Kazan (Idel Buye) Federal University) is a higher education institution in Kazan, one of the oldest Russian universities (founded in 1804) and one of ten federal universities (since 2010).

This release was published on openPR.