Synthesis and characterization of gelatin nanoparticles coupled GFP for potential release of antineoplastic drugs

Hector Magaña – Professor, Faculty of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, Autonomous University of Baja California; Giovanni Palomino-Vizcaino – Professor, Autonomous University of Baja California; Kenia Palomino-Vizcaino – Professor, Faculty of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, Autonomous University of Baja California

Introduction:

Cancer has the highest prevalence and death rate in the world. It is estimated that an additional one million new cancer cases will be diagnosed in Latin America by 2040 [1]. Although chemotherapy is the most efficient treatment for this disease, it is limited by its cytotoxicity. Recent advances in anti-cancer therapies have led to the development of treatments based on drug delivery systems like nanoparticles attached to ligands capable of recognizing tumor cells have been used as vehicles for this purpose. This work aims to synthesize gelatin nanoparticles coupled to green fluorescent protein (GFP). This will serve as a probe concept for coupling proteins as recognition elements to cancer cells.