Translocation of liposomes under angiogenic conditions mimicking the EPR effect in paediatric cancer

Emma Morris – Research technician, University of Birmingham

Introduction:

Interest in the enhanced permeation and retention (EPR) effect and its contribution to nanomedicine accumulation remains strong, despite current debates(1). It was also suggested that patients could be stratified on the basis of EPR effect(2). This approach could be interesting for children since angiogenesis, often seen as the cornerstone of enhanced permeation, is a prominent feature of many childhood cancers. However, a predictive correlation between biomarker levels and increased permeability has not been established. This project takes tentative steps towards answering this question by studying nanoparticle translocation using an in vitro cell model simulating the EPR effect.