Nanotechnology for Soft Tissue Sarcoma: nanofibrous medicated meshes enhanced with LIPO-EPI-LOX liposomes for target therapy in localized disease

Soft Tissue Sarcoma (STS) constitute an heterogenous group of rare malignancies with more than 70 subtypes. Due to the high variability among the different histotypes, STS represent a challenging field in terms of diagnosis and therapy. Over the last 50 years the therapeutic approaches have remained almost unchanged, and the outcomes are still limited. This thesis project will focus on the localized disease, where the cornerstone treatment is surgery. However, it is not always possible to achieve negative surgical margins and minimizing functional impairment, particularly when dealing with large masses located in hard to access areas, such as the retroperitoneum. The aim of the project is to overcome these limits through the development of a polymeric nanofibrous mesh engineered with therapeutic liposomes encapsulated into a Gel-MA hydrogel. The nanofibrous design of the patch mimics the extracellular matrix (ECM) to promote tissue regeneration, while the sustained release of liposomes over three days is engineered to mitigate the risk of local recurrences through the targeted delivery of the chemotherapeutic drug. This work validates the biological compatibility of the developed patches and their potential to improve patient outcomes by ensuring localized drug delivery and mitigating recurrence risks. The findings will contribute to the evolving landscape of precision medicine in oncology, highlighting the role of nanotechnology in addressing critical challenges in STS management.