Biobased materials: towards more efficient and patient friendly chemotherapy

Being one of the greatest health threats, cancer has a direct impact on society. Contribution to cancer curability present a relevant technological, social and economic impact in line with the SDG goal of good health and well-being.

In conventional chemotherapy, anticancer drugs travel through the body affecting healthy cells and causing severe side effects. Thus, an efficient anticancer therapy must combine cancer cell-killing activity with targeting properties.

The fundamental aim of our study is to develop biobased, degradable drug carriers with high affinity and selectivity toward cancer cells. The outcome of our research is envisioned to improve the efficiency of administration and biocompatibility of anticancer drugs, thereby reducing the side effects of chemotherapy.

The interdisciplinary collaboration will bridge between chemical and medical sciences to develop a novel biobased material (drug carrier) that would advance towards a patient friendly anticancer therapy. To reach that goal, Aachen-Maastricht Institute for Biobased Materials (AMIBM) will collaborate with Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology (PharTox). With Sustainability UM2030 grant, we want to demonstrate the importance of the topic and its feasibility. Our team is committed to establish a strong collaboration that will continue beyond the seed fund phase.