Cancer remains a medical challenge. We believe that cancer will be treated effectively by using smart polymeric nanocarriers that will encapsulate drugs, genes and T-cells and deliver them selectively to cancer cells. Therefore, the problem turns to a polymer synthetic challenge. Our dream is to synthesize a multifunctional polymeric material that will have the appropriate functionality to form an aggregate, encapsulate drugs, genes and T-cells and dynamically respond to all biological barriers in order to bypass them and deliver anticancer agents selectively to cancer cells, a polymer that will know by itself what to do in order to reach its target and deliver them. A polymer that will fight cancer… Polymer scientists together with pharmaceutical scientists, clinical oncologists and biologists have to collaborate to produce smart nanoparticles with these properties. PANNANOMED project aims on the synthesis of novel amphiphilic stimuli-responsive hybrid polymers that combine the advantages of polypeptides and conventional polymers in a complex macromolecular architecture in order to result a polymeric material that will feature the appropriate functionality. They will self-assemble into hydrogels, nanogels or polymersomes, encapsulating recently discovered drugs and genes against pancreatic cancer and pancreatic cancer stem cells and will be tested in vitro and in vivo. The hydrogels and nanogels will respond to pH and present superior site-specificity and sustained drug release behavior. The hydrogels will be placed in situ subcutaneously  on the tumor, and will deliver selectively and directionally the drugs on the tumor. The poly(ethylene oxide) exterior shell of the polymersomes and nanogels will bestow superior stealth properties to the vehicle against the reticuloendothelial system due to their complex architecture. The polymersomes and nanogels will feature a surface marker that recognizes target cells. Once in the cell the smart vehicles will respond dynamically to intracellular obstacles in order to selectively deliver synergistically acting drugs and genes in the same cancer cell. These drug and gene carriers will open urgently needed novel routes to the treatment of this deadly disease.

SYNTHESIS OF MULTIFUNCTIONAL AMPHIPHILIC HYBRID POLYPEPTIDES THAT FORM SMART DRUG AND GENE DELIVERY NANOCONSTRUCTS AGAINST PANCREATIC CANCER

(PANNANOMED)