A funcionalização de superfície nas nanocápsulas contendo doxorrubicina com o peptídeo RGD é uma estratégia promissora devido a ligação preferencial na integrina αvβ3 expressa em células tumorais. Este estudo objetivou o desenvolvimento, caracterização e estudos biológicos de nanocápsulas multiparedes com doxorrubicina e funcionalizadas com RGD. Para isso, na primeira etapa do trabalho foi realizada a síntese do peptídeo RGD. Os produtos obtidos foram caracterizados por análises de infravermelho e RMN de 1H. Na segunda etapa foram desenvolvidas formulações de nanocápsulas com doxorrubicina ou cloridrato de doxorrubicina, e, nanocápsulas multiparedes revestidas com quitosana, íons zinco, RGD ou fenilalanina. Essas suspensões foram caracterizadas através da determinação do pH, diâmetro de partícula por diferentes técnicas, potencial zeta, eficiência de encapsulação e eficiência de associação do RGD na superfície da nanopartícula. Na terceira etapa, foram realizados ensaios de viabilidade celular por MTT após 24 e 72h com as formulações desenvolvidas em células de câncer de mama (MCF7) e glioblastoma humano (U87MG). As formulações apresentaram diferentes valores de citotoxicidade e, utilizando o Gráfico de Pareto foi possível determinar os fatores que exercem maior influencia. Em células MCF7 foi a concentração de fármaco e tempo de tratamento e, nas células U87MG além desses fatores, a funcionalização mostrou-se determinante. Além disso, foi avaliada a captação das nanocápsulas funcionalizadas com RGD e fenilalanina após 24h nas células tumorais e células de queratinócitos humanos (HaCat), com diferentes níveis de expressão da integrina αvβ3. O estudo mostrou menores valores de captação nas células HaCat (sem expressão de integrina αvβ3) para as duas formulações testadas. Finalmente as nanocápsulas funcionalizadas com RGD apresentaram maior captação em células U87MG com maior expressão da integrina αvβ3. / The surface functionalization in nanocapsules containing doxorubicin with RGD peptide is a promising strategy due to preferential binding in the αvβ3 integrin expressed on tumor cells. This study aimed the development, characterization, and biological studies of multiwall nanocapsules containing doxorubicin and functionalized with RGD. For this reason, in the first stage of this study the synthesis of RGD peptide was performed and the products characterized by infrared analysis and 1H NMR. Besides, nanocapsules formulations were developed containing doxorubicin or doxorubicin hydrochloride, and multiwall nanocapsules coated with chitosan, zinc ions, RGD or phenylalanine. These suspensions were characterized by pH determination, particle diameter by different techniques, zeta potential, encapsulation efficiency, and association efficiency of RGD on the surface of the nanoparticle. Additionally, it was performed cell viability assays by MTT after 24 and 72 hours with formulations developed in breast cancer (MCF7) and human glioblastoma cells (U87MG). Formulations showed different cytotoxicity values. The Pareto chart was possible to determine factors that have more influence. In MCF7 cells was drug concentration and treatment time, and U87MG cells, besides these factors, the functionalization was decisive. Furthermore, it was performed the cellular uptake of nanocapsules functionalized with RGD or phenylalanine after 24 hours in tumor cells and human keratinocyte cells (HaCaT), with different levels of expression αvβ3 integrin. The study showed less uptake in HaCaT cells (without expression αvβ3 integrin) for the two formulations applied, and the nanocapsules functionalized with RGD showed more uptake in U87MG cells, with higher expression of integrin αvβ3.

La doxorubicine induit un stress oxydant, des dommages à l’ADN conduisant aussi bien à la mort des cellules cancéreuses que des cardiomyocytes. De nos jours, plusieurs hypothèses non reliées à la mort cellulaire et impliquant d’autres mécanismes ou l’altération des signalisations cardiaques telles que la signalisation β-adrénergique ont émergé. Cette thèse a donc pour objectif l’étude du rôle d’Epac, facteur d’échange directement activé par l’AMP cyclique, lui-même produit après stimulation β-adrénergique, dans la cardiotoxicité induite par la doxorubicine. En effet, la doxorubicine induit une cardiomyopathie dilatée 15 semaines après traitement associée à une altération de l’homéostasie calcique. Ces altérations sont corrélées à la modulation temps et dose-dépendantes de la signalisation d’Epac. Cette même altération globale de la signalisation d’Epac a également été observée in vitro après 24h de traitement à la dox. De plus, l’inhibition spécifique d’Epac 1 a permis la prévention des dommages à l’ADN et de façon subséquente de la mort des cardiomyocytes. L’invalidation du gène d’Epac1 chez la souris a également permis la prévention in vivo des altérations de l’homéostasie calcique ainsi que de la fonction cardiaque induite par la dox. Enfin, l’inhibition d’Epac n’interfère pas avec l’efficacité antitumorale de la doxorubicine sur différentes lignées cancéreuses. En conclusion, nous avons identifié Epac comme nouvelle cible thérapeutique de la cardiotoxicité induite par la dox permettant sa prévention sans réduire l’efficacité du traitement anticancéreux. / The mechanisms underlying doxorubicin (Dox)-induced cardiotoxicity involve reactive oxygen species generation, DNA intercalation and topoisomerase II (TopII) inhibition which trigger DNA damage, oxidative stress, alteration of calcium homeostasis and lead to cardiomyocyte death. Now, evidences have emerged that Dox may promote cardiotoxicity by alternative mechanisms or by signaling pathways modulation including β-adrenergic signaling unrelated directly to cell death. This study provides in vitro and in vivo evidence of the guanine exchange factor directly activated by Epac role, a guanine exchange factor directly activated by cyclic AMP produced after β-AR stimulation, in cardiotoxicity induced by doxorubicin. Indeed, Dox leads to the development of a dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) 15 weeks post treatment in mice associated with calcium homeostasis abnormalities. These alterations were associated with time- and dose-dependent alterations of Epac signaling. The same alterations of Epac signaling were observed in vitro after 24h of dox treatment. Furthermore, we first showed that the specific pharmacologic or genetic inhibition of Epac1 but not Epac2 prevents the deleterious effects of Dox in vitro. These cardioprotection were confirmed in vivo in transgenic Knock-out Epac1 mice. Epac 1 inhibition did not interfere with the attempted Dox antitumor efficiency on tumor cell lines. Altogether, these findings identify the cAMP-binding protein, Epac, as a potential therapeutic target of dox-induced cardiotoxicity.

The tumor suppressor protein p53 is one of the major regulators of the cell cycle after DNA damage. In addition to stopping the cycle and repairing DNA, it can, in extreme cases, induce programmed cell death - apoptosis. Mutations in the gene encoding p53 are present in more than 50% of cancer cases. This thesis examines alternative natural polyphenolic substances that could increase the level and expression of p53 protein in tumor cells. These substances could be an alternative to non-specific cytostatics, which bring many undesirable additional effects during treatment. In the theoretical part of the thesis the structure and properties of the p53 protein and describes alternative therapeutic approaches with a focus on polyphenolic substances is explained. The aim of the experimental part was to determine the effect of curcumin and resveratrol in comparison with often used cytostatic drug, doxorubicin, on cell viability of tumor cells and on p53 protein levels. The effect of these substances on the binding of p53 to DNA in yeast systems was also examined. It was found that doxorubin efficiency is many times higher than the examined polyphenolic agents, but resveratrol was showing some potential as a suitable alternative in the treatment of tumors, thanks to the ability to activate apotosis. It was clearly demonstrated that there is an association between induced programmed death and increased p53 protein expression after resveratrol treatment.

The diploma´s thesis “Antitumor activity and targeted transport of rutin” deals with the effect of flavonoid rutin on tumor and non-tumor cells. The thesis is divided into the theoretical part and practical part. The theoretical part deals with rutin itself, tumor diseases and nanocarrier apoferritin. The practical part has three main parts. The first one deals with the properties of the rutin itself, its stability for storage and stability in solutions simulating distinct physiological environments. Furthermore, toxicity of rutin for tumor and non-tumor cells and the effect on the expression of proteins involved in the malignant potential of tumor cells were investigated. The second part deals with encapsulation of rutin into apoferritin (to form aporutin), characterization of this complex by means of its stability and toxicity for tumor and non-tumor cells. The third and last part focuses on a combined therapy in terms, of the synergistic action of rutin/aporutin together with doxorubicin on tumor and non-tumor cells was investigated.

Theranostics is connecting two medical branches, diagnostic and therapy. It enables transport of drugs and diagnostic imaging in one step. Nanoparticles, nanotubes, lipozomes or apoferritin can be used as platform for targeted transport. Apoferritin (APO) is a protein from ferritin family, which is characterized by an empty cavity. Is possible encapsulate some cargo (e.g., drug) into this cavity. Encapsulation is done by pH change. There is a possibility to modify APO surface. It causes targeted transport to for example cancer cells. In this study, process of preparation of targeted nanotransporter based on APO is described; next, its characterization by in vitro experiments is shown. The prepared targeted nanotransporter delivered drug to cancer cells and in the same time was decreased toxicity on surrounding tissue and organs.

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Doxorubicin is one of the most widely used and effective anticancer agents to treat a wide spectrum of tumors. But its success in cancer therapy is greatly compromised by its cumulative dose-dependent side effects of cardiotoxicity and tumor cell resistance. For the purpose of addressing these side effects, a gold nanoparticles-based anticancer drug delivery system was designed. Five novel thiolated doxorubicin analogs were designed and synthesized and their biological activities have been evaluated. These doxorubicin analogs and the poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) stabilizing ligands were conjugated to gold nanoparticles via formation of a gold-thiol bond. The systems were evaluated in vitro and in vivo, and the results show that controlled drug release can be achieved either by acidic conditions or by reducing agents in cancer cells, depending on the design of the thiolated drug construct. The overall drug delivery system should achieve enhanced drug accumulation and retention in cancer cells and favorable drug release kinetics, and should demonstrate therapeutic potential and the ability to address some of the current problems of doxorubicin in cancer therapy. / Master of Science

Doxorubicin is one of the most effective anti-cancer agents; however its use is associated with adverse cardiac effects, including cardiomyopathy and progressive heart failure. Mitochondrial function and integrity are crucial for cellular processes in general and play an important role during diseased development. These characteristics of the mitochondria make them the prime target for treatments for majority of diseases and in particular of the cardiovascular system. The mitochondria are also considered to play an integral role in the manifestation of the cardiotoxic effects of compounds such as doxorubicin. The current project is designed to investigate the cardiotoxic effects of doxorubicin at tissue, cellular and protein level. In addition, it is investigated whether the inhibition of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) with cyclosporin A (CsA) or the inhibition of mitochondrial fission with the mitochondrial division inhibitor (mdivi-1) protects against the detrimental effects of doxorubicin on cardiac function. We also investigated whether co-treatment of doxorubicin with either CsA or mdivi-1 has any negative interaction with the cytotoxicity of doxorubicin against cancer cells. Langendorff results indicated that doxorubicin caused a time dependent reduction in the haemodynamic function of the heart as well as causing an increase in the infarct size to risk ratio in both naïve conditions and in conditions of ischaemia and reperfusion. Detrimental effects of doxorubicin on cardiac function were abrogated by co-treatment of doxorubicin with CsA or mdivi-1 in naïve conditions and in conditions of ischaemia and reperfusion. Cell viability data of isolated cardiac myocytes revealed that doxorubicin caused a concentration dependant decrease in the viability of neonatal cardiac myocytes as well as causing a reduction in the time taken to depolarisation and hypercontracture under sustained oxidative stress, all of which were prevented when co-treated with either CsA or mdivi-1. Doxorubicin significantly elevated the levels of p-Akt, p-Erk, p-Drp1 and p-p53. Co-treatment with CsA prevented the increase in the levels of p-Akt and p-Erk caused by doxorubicin in both naïve and IR condition whereas mdivi-1 prevented the increase in the levels of p-Erk, p-Drp1 and p-p53 and caused further increase in the levels of p-Akt. Using sinusoidal muscle length change during contraction and relaxation, it is demonstrated that doxorubicin caused a decrease in the power output, peak force and force during shorting. Detrimental effects of doxorubicin on work-loop contraction were abrogated when doxorubicin was co-administered with CsA. To conclude, results demonstrated that doxorubicin caused cardiotoxicity at tissue, cellular and protein level in both naïve conditions and in conditions of ischaemia and reperfusion injury. In addition, it is shown that the inhibition of mitochondrial permeability transition pore with CsA or the inhibition of the mitochondrial fission with mdivi-1 protect against doxorubicin-induced toxicity without affecting its anti-cancer properties.