Development of pH/Temperature-Sensitive Nanogel for Active Targeting of Folate Receptor-Alpha in Cervical Cancer

Kenia Palomino Vizcaíno – Professor, Autonomous University of Baja California; José Manuel Cornejo Bravo – Professor, Autonomous University of Baja California; Giovanni Palomino Vizcaino – Professor, Autonomous University of Baja California; Héctor Alfonso Magaña Badilla – Professor, Autonomous University of Baja California; Teresa Guadalupe Rodríguez Téllez – Professor, Autonomous University of Baja California

Introduction: Cervical cancer is a leading cause of mortality among women worldwide [1] . Despite advances in cancer diagnosis and treatment, systemic toxicity and poor specificity of antineoplastic drugs remain critical barriers to effective cancer treatment. In particular, folic acid targeting takes advantage of the overexpression of the folate receptor in cervical malignant tissues, provides an effective strategy for increasing therapeutic selectivity [2]. We developed a smart microgel system functionalized with folic acid (FA) designed to respond to the tumor microenvironment, aiming to maximize local drug concentration while minimizing exposure to healthy tissues