Crystallized Drug, Biomaterial Delivery System for Treating Ovarian Cancer

Project summary

Ovarian cancers result in poor prognoses due to their later-stage diagnosis, invasive nature, and poor therapeutic options. The majority of patients are diagnosed with metastatic disease with a 29% five-year survival rate due to cells being shed into the general free space of the abdomen. Another major challenge is the safe and effective delivery of drugs to the right tissue at a maintained, effective dose.

To address these issues, our laboratory is developing innovative crystalline drug reservoirs and biomaterial deposition systems to accomplish precision delivery in treating ovarian cancer. Crystalline formulations impart long-term, controlled delivery to maintain dosing requirements locally and avoid drug toxicity systemically. Ensuring constant release will also prevent lack of adherence to therapeutic regimens, which can be detrimental to treatment success. Further, our efforts of developing a biomaterial matrix that may be painted on (containing drug) and photo crosslinked or pre-formed and unwrapped and placed real-time will improve efficacy.

Optimization of these systems is instrumental in not only improving targeted drug placement but also regaining compartmentalization around ascites that are spreading in an uncontrolled fashion throughout the abdomen. Given these issues, ovarian cancer is well-suited for these collective drug formulation and biomaterial delivery approaches, and this work will lead to better treatment options and outcomes for ovarian cancer patients.

This grant was made possible by a generous donation from the estate of Shirley Johnson.