| Project Detail |
Innovative dendritic selenium-based prodrugs for cancer treatment
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are free radicals containing oxygen that reacts with other cell molecules. Under normal physiological conditions, ROS drive regulatory pathways, and cells control the generation of ROS via scavenging systems. Elevated ROS levels are present in almost all cancer cells, where they promote proliferation. However, high levels of ROS can suppress the growth of cancer cells and kill them via activation of cell-cycle inhibitors. Selenium derivatives show chemotherapeutic potential, based on the ability to act as a pro-oxidant at high dosages. Funded by the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions programme, the RUPTURE project aims to develop novel anticancer agents based on selenium-containing dendritic carriers, targeting ROS signalling and inducing cell death.
Elevated rates of reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been detected in almost all cancers, where they promote many aspects of tumour development and progression. The radical generated, the location, as well as the local concentration, are essential for the cellular functions of ROS in cancer. Among redox modulating compounds, selenium derivatives have gained substantial attention due to their promising chemotherapeutic potential, which result from selenium’s ability to act as a pro-oxidant at high dosage. This proposal is intended to develop novel therapeutic agents based on selenium-containing dendrimers, which act as precision carriers with unparalleled structural perfection. These agents, with a plethora of internally queued selenium-selenium bridges will be activated upon the rupturing of the dendritic carriers by external stimuli. It is herein envisioned that RUPTURE can rise to the challenge, acting as cutting-edge prodrugs that will fine-tune intracellular ROS signalling to effectively deprive cells of ROS-induced tumour-promoting events, thereby tipping the balance to ROS-induced apoptotic signalling. |
