Development of controlled etoposide release materials: Testing on glioblastoma cells

Etoposide is a chemotherapy drug used to treat cancer. This medicine works by preventing the growth and proliferation of cancer cells. Etoposide is often used to treat various types of cancer, such as solid tumors, lymphoma, and leukemia. Etoposide works by affecting the processes of DNA replication and cell division. The main mechanism of the drug is to inhibit the enzyme topoisomerase II, affecting the processes of unwinding and recombination of the DNA pair. Etoposide inhibits the normal function of this enzyme, preventing DNA from being properly replicated and cell division from completing. Etoposide is used by oncologists to treat certain types of cancer. The effect of etoposide may vary depending on the type of cancer for which it is used, the patient's general health condition, and other treatment methods. In this study, empty HSA particles were synthesized with HSA-nanoparticles loaded with etoposide at different concentrations, and molecularly imprinted HEMA/gelatin cryogels were synthesized using these particles. Hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA)-based cryogels were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, zeta-sizer particle size analysis, and swelling tests. Release kinetics were examined depending on the amount of Etoposide-loaded into the cryogels; A cytotoxicity test was performed to examine the effect of Etoposide on Glioblastoma cells. As a result, it turned out that Etoposide-loaded into the gel was more effective than Etoposide applied directly to the cells.