Development of post-surgical local delivery systems based on polymeric nanofibers for the administration of antineoplastic drugs against glioblastoma

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Glioblastoma is an aggressive glioma with low incidence but high mortality, mainly due to its localization and the limited efficacy of current treatments (1). To overcome significant off-target toxicity due to systemic chemotherapy, localized delivery systems with controlled release, such as polymeric carmustine (BCNU) wafers under the name Gliadel®, are being explored (2). Encapsulating chemotherapeutics such as Doxorubicin (DOX) in polymeric nanofibers could offer a promising approach to enhance bioavailability and enable sustained, site-specific delivery.

AIM

In this work, poly(methyl vinyl ether-alt-maleic anhydride) (PMVEMA) monoethyl ester (Es) and acid (Ac) nanofibers were synthesized as delivery systems for carmustine (BCNU) and doxorubicin (DOX).