John Fetse (Larkin U):

Development of Smart Drug Delivery Systems for Prostate Cancer Immunotherapy

Prostate cancer (PCa) involves elevated monoamine oxidase-A (MAO-A) levels, which contribute to tumor growth and resistance. Repurposing phenelzine, a MAO inhibitor, offers potential treatment benefits but raises concerns about central nervous system side effects. To address this, a pH-responsive drug delivery platform was developed, featuring a hydrazone bond for controlled phenelzine release. The nanocarriers, with a particle size of 168.9 nm, PDI of 0.16, and zeta potential of -41.7, were tested for pH-dependent drug release at pH 5.4, 6.4, and 7.4 over 18 hours. Results showed the highest phenelzine release at pH 5.4 (74.7%) and the lowest at pH 7.4 (11.3%), indicating responsiveness to acidic conditions typical of the tumor microenvironment. The formulation demonstrated no significant hemolytic activity, suggesting good cytocompatibility. The pH-responsive nanocarrier offers promise for enhancing tumor-specific drug targeting and reducing side effects by minimizing off-target distribution.