Colorectal cancer (CRC) originates in the lining of the colon (large intestine) or rectum, which are the final portions of the large intestine, closest to the anus. It is the third most common non-skin cancer diagnosed in men and women in the U.S. The number of diagnoses of colorectal cancer developed gradually over many years. American cancer society identified it as the second highest cause of cancer deaths in the last few years. Depends on the stage of cancer, colorectal tumors are treated with surgery or chemotherapeutic agents. In the chemotherapy approach, drugs will systematically administer and will affect both cancer and healthy cells. Targeted medicinal treatment will attack cancer cells, while healthy cells remain intact. Our study focuses on an anti-cancer plant product, called Veratridine (VTD). Our research work actively focused on designing gated VTD drug delivery methods by mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MCM-41 MSNs). MCM-41 MSNs sealed by an enzymatically cleavable protein will deliver VTD molecule to the colon cancer cells. We have examined the potential of casein and Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) proteins to seal the pores of the MCM-41 nanoparticles. Our preliminary data have shown that covalent attachment of BSA and casein to the silica nanoparticles by the amide and carboxylic acid chloride ligands slow down the release of the model drug eugenol from MSNs. Enzyme responsive studies have shown that the rate of release is substantially increased by the enzymatic cleavage of BSA and Casein, which proves the concept. We will improve this system by replacing the model eugenol with VTD and the model casein with metalloproteins followed by examining this novel drug delivery in a mouse model of colon cancer.

Gated delivery of veratridine by nanoassemblies for treatment of colorectal cancer

ACS Fall 2020 Virtual Meeting

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