USM Developing Polymeric Vehicle Drug Delivery System For Cancer Treatment
Researchers at the University of Southern Mississippi are working on developing a polymeric vehicle drug delivery system for patients suffering from cancer. The goal of the research was to develop a drug delivery system that could efficiently deliver drugs to targeted locations, minimizing delivery to surrounding tissues that could cause adverse side effects.
Current cancer treatments affect the majority of the body’s organs and can cause unwanted issues. “The idea here is we want to create a polymeric vehicle that can do the same job, but only deliver to the cancer tumor," said Dr. Daniel Savin, assistant professor of polymer science at USM and the lead researcher on the project. “Instead of looking at plastic sheets for example, we are more interested in the properties of these polymers and what they do in solution, in the bloodstream, in serum, under different types of conditions.”
The research team is looking at how developed proteins can respond to different conditions within the body, and how those results might be able to help them determine which polymers could work best for a drug delivery system. A number of different research institutions are looking at improving drug delivery in the cancer area, but the use of polymers is unique.
Ashley Johnson, a graduate student who has also been involved with the research project, commented on how the team is looking to curb the side effects of cancer treatment. “We know the chemotherapy does kill the cancer cells, and it is a good thing, but anybody walking the streets can see the negative side effects…" Johnson said. According to Johnson, this new project, while a difficult undertaking, could be the answer to making life more enjoyable for the patients suffering from cancer.