Genomic DNA functionalized 3D printed materials for drug capture

Abstract

Since the discovery of nitrogen mustard as an effective anti-cancer agent in the 1940s, and consequently, the concept of chemotherapy, researchers around the world have been actively developing new and more effective chemotherapeutic agents to better treat cancer. Traditionally, chemotherapeutic agents work by interfering with cell division. However, by virtue of their mechanism of action, healthy normal cells can also be targeted and destroyed. As a result, while chemotherapy is an effective way of managing cancer, the resulting side effects limits its use. One approach currently taken to reduce these side effects is to deliver the chemotherapy drugs directly to the tumor via transarterial chemoembolization, or other similar procedures. While this has been effective in reducing systemic toxicity, more can be done to improve this. Ideally, a device that could sequester any unreacted chemotherapy agents could be installed "downstream" of the tumor prior to them entering systemic circulation. Such drug-capture materials have yet to be realized. We report the synthesis of genomic DNA functionalized 3D printed materials that can be used to capture doxorubicin, a commonly used chemotherapy agent. The efficacy of these materials highlight the possibility of utilizing them in a device that can be deployed in the body for drug capture.

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