Abstract
M.Sc.
The statistical proof that most forms of cancer metastasize to bone has redirected
the focus of secondary bone cancer to probe into the most efficient forms of
treatment. Due to the fact that secondary bone cancer delocalizes to bone,
chemotherapy has been established as an efficient form of treatment.
Bisphosphonates is one chemotherapeutic agent that has shown a great potency
in treating bone related sicknesses. Bisphosphonates are analogues of
pyrophosphates that are characterized by the presence of two P-C bonds. They
have a very high affinity for bone undergoing renewal and are thus able to inhibit
tumour induced resorption. Bisphosphonates’ efficiency is however reduced due to
that they have a low molecular weight hence are excreted before reaching
targeted sites. In this study, an attempt to improve the efficiency was done by
providing carbon nanotubes (which were synthesized in our laboratories) as
delivery systems. By conjugating bisphosphonates onto carbon nanotubes the
molecular weight was increased. Bisphosphonates conjugated carbon nanotubes
have been radiolabelled to increase their anticancer activity. By exploiting the
Enhanced Permeability Retention (EPR) effect and the high energy electrons from
the radioisotope (³²P), it is anticipated that bone metastasis will be successfully
treated by the ³²P labelled bisphosphonates carbon nanotube conjugates.
Successful synthesis of bisphosphonates conjugated carbon nanotubes was
confirmed by several characterization techniques namely: the Scanning Electron
Microscope (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM), Raman
spectroscopy, Thermal Gravimetric Analysis (TGA), Electron Dispersive X-ray
(EDX), and the Fourier Transmission Infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Oxidation and
bisphosphonates conjugation onto carbon nanotubes were further confirmed by
the Raman, TGA, FT-IR, EDX and the SXPS (Scanning X-ray photoelectron
spectroscopy) Successful radiolabelling was determined by a liquid scintillation
counter (LSC).