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My research group has developed a localised drug delivery system, in which a biodegradable polymer (PLGA/PEG) is applied around the tumour cavity wall at neurosurgical resection. The polymer forms a paste at room temperature, which solidifies next to the surgical cavity wall at body temperature. This gives spatial control over dose delivery, extending the length of time infiltrative tumour cells are exposed to the drug.

My expertise is in:

• Local biomaterial-based drug delivery systems for intracranial tumours
• 3D brain tumour models for drug screening
• Bio-instructive nanotherapeutics
• HDAC inhibitors
• Brain intra-tumour heterogeneity. 

Existing collaborations relevant to drug delivery

Prof. Henry Brem and Dr. Betty Tyler (Johns Hopkins Medical School) – Evaluation of polymer-based chemotherapy delivery using neurosurgical orthotopic high grade glioma models. 

Prof. Veronique Preat (University of Louvain) – Localised delivery of micro- and nano-therapeutics using surgical resection glioma models.

Publications relevant to drug delivery

McCrorie P, Vasey C, Smith SJ, Marlow M, Alexander C, Rahman R. Biomedical engineering approaches to enhance nanotherapeutic delivery for malignant glioma. Journal of Controlled Release (2020; in press). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jconrel.2020.11.022

McCrorie P, Mistry J, Taresco V, Lovato T, Fay M, Ritchie A, Clarke P, Smith SJ, Marlow M*, Rahman R*. Etoposide and olaparib polymer-coated nanoparticles within a bio-adhesive sprayable hydrogel for post-surgical localised delivery to brain tumours. European Journal of Biopharmaceutics and Pharmaceutics 157: 108-120 (2020). 

Taresco V, Abelha T, Cavanagh R, Vasey CE, Pearce AK, Spriggs KA, Clarke P, Ritchie A, Martin S, Rahman R, Grabowska A, Ashford M, Alexander C. Functionalized block co-polymer pro-drug nanoparticles with anti-cancer efficacy in 3D spheroids and in an orthotopic triple negative breast cancer model. Advanced Therapeutics 2000103 (2020) DOI: 10.1002/adtp.202000103. 

Smith SJ, Tyler BM, Gould T, Veal GJ, Gorelick N, Rowlinson J, Serra R, Ritchie A, Berry P, Otto A, Choi J, Skuli N, Estevez-Cebrero M, Shakesheff KM, Brem H, Grundy RG, Rahman R. Overall survival in orthotopic malignant glioma is significantly prolonged by neurosurgical delivery of combined etoposide and temozolomide from a thermo-responsive biodegradable paste. Clinical Cancer Research 25(16): 5094-5106 (2019).  

Nailor A, Walker DA., Smith S, Rahman R, Kilday JP. Highlights of Children with Cancer UK’s workshop on drug delivery in paediatric brain tumours. Ecancermedicine (IF 1.0) Mar 31; 10:630. doi: 10.3332/ecancer.2016.630 (2016).

Rahman R. Biomaterial-based local drug delivery to brain tumors. Therapeutic Delivery 5(12): 1243-1245 (2014).

Smith SJ, Rahman CV, Clarke PA, Ritchie AA, Gould TW, Ward JH, Shakesheff KM, Grundy RG, Rahman R. Surgical delivery of drug-releasing poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) / poly(ethylene glycol) paste with in vivo effects against glioblastoma. Annals of Royal College of Surgeons England 96: 495-501 (2014). 

Rahman CV, Smith SJ, Morgan PS, Langmack KA, Clarke PA, Ritchie AA, Macarthur DC, Rose FR, Shakesheff KM, Grundy RG, Rahman R.  Adjuvant chemotherapy for brain tumours delivered via a novel intra-cavity mouldable polymer matrix. PLoS One 8(10): e77435 (2013).