Gifted and Talented Mentorship

Research Proposal

Student: Nina Ejindu Date: January 16, 2024

I. Research Title: The Efficacy of Nanoparticle-delivered Chemotherapeutics: Effectively Preventing Cancer

Recurrence

II. Overview of Research

This project aims to investigate the nanoparticle-based delivery of chemotherapeutics to improve the efficacy of
adjuvant cancer therapies following a surgical resection. To assess the benefits of nanomedicines as compared
to traditional chemotherapeutics, a meta-analysis of four studies comparing the efficacy and toxicity of
chemotherapy-loaded nanoparticles to traditional chemotherapy will be evaluated.

III. Background and Rationale

Surgical resections are a common cancer treatment used to remove solid tumors from one specific location.
However, surgery may stimulate early locoregional and metastatic cancer recurrence as incomplete removal or
the circulation of shredded cancer cells may formulate new tumors. Cancer recurrence is unideal as it
significantly decreases the survival and quality of life of cancer patients. To reduce recurrence, adjuvant
therapies, such as chemotherapy, are used following primary treatment to kill all residual malignant cells before
they can reform new tumors. Despite the benefits of this treatment, a new issue arises as cytotoxic
chemotherapy lacks selectivity, killing both malignant and normal cells and ultimately causing adverse effects
such as nausea, alopecia, fatigue, infertility, and immunosuppression. Cancer cells may also develop resistance
to chemotherapy due to the overexpression of drug efflux transporters, a hypoxic environment, and faulty
apoptotic pathways. The use of nanoparticles, microscopic drug delivery systems, may counteract these issues
due to their superior pharmacokinetics, specific targeting, drug resistance prevention, and reduction of adverse
side effects. These favorable qualities are attributed to the diverse sizes, shapes, and surface properties of NPs.
NPs are small enough to accumulate in tumors and large enough to carry therapeutics. Their surface also allows
for the addition of surface ligands allowing for target specificity, protecting normal cells from cytotoxicity, and
reducing adverse effects. They may also prevent drug resistance as certain chemotherapy-loaded NPs can evade
anti-cancer drug exposure to efflux transporters and subdue Bcl-2-related resistance.

IV. Primary Research Methodology

Research Question:
How can we prevent the adverse effects of adjuvant chemotherapy while retaining or improving its
effectiveness in preventing cancer recurrence?

Research Hypothesis:
The nanoparticle-based delivery of chemotherapeutics will improve therapeutic efficacy and prevent adverse
side effects as the structural qualities of nanoparticles allow for selective targeting, superior pharmacokinetics,
and drug resistance prevention.

Research Design and Data Collection:

A causal-comparative research design will be used to answer the research question stated above as information
gathered will identify how the use of nanotechnology compared to traditional chemotherapeutics affects toxicity
and patient symptoms. With this in mind, data collection will be mixed-method, assembled through the
meta-analysis of four similar studies that evaluate the chemotherapy’s effect on patients and the cytotoxicity of
normal and malignant cells based on different delivery methods. In these studies, the independent variable will
be the type of therapy delivery, either traditional or nanoparticle-based, while the dependent variable will be the
degree of cytotoxicity to normal and malignant cancer cells.

V. Product Objectives
To communicate the research findings after a year of study, either a website or an additional paper for
publication promoting the clinical use of nanomedicines for adjuvant therapy will be formulated. The intended
audience for this product is clinical researchers investigating the use of nanoparticles in cancer therapy,
specifically, researchers looking for data, studies, and information supporting the beneficial and superior effects
of nanomedicines compared to traditional adjuvant treatments.

VI. Logistical Considerations (you may have this; you may not)
To create this product, access to the Internet, electronic databases, and a reliable website-making resource are
necessary. Access to user-generated content such as videos and images is essential to creating an engaging and
informative webpage. If the final product is a short paper for publication, then access to the Internet and youth
science journals willing to publish the research are required.

VII. Significance of Research

The proposed problem is important as cancer is the second leading cause of death in the U.S., and worldwide
over a quarter of the Earth’s population will be affected by cancer. Despite current treatments, cancer recurrence
remains a serious issue, decreasing a patient's quality of life and survival. Although traditional adjuvant
therapies address this issue, a new problem arises from the adverse effects of adjuvant therapies such as
chemotherapy. Nanotechnology creates the possibility of a future where both cancer recurrence and the risk of
cancer treatment itself are no longer a prominent issue or deterrents to adjuvant therapy. Either a website or a
published paper would be appropriate methods to communicate this research as these online resources can reach
researchers and doctors worldwide. Because this product would be accessible to all, it has the potential to
mobilize the continuation of this research, the clinical use of nanomedicines, and the improved efficacy of
cancer therapies.