Stem cell based therapy has the potential to treat several severe diseases; Parkinson’s
disease is one well- known example. Transplantation of stem cell derived cells into
animal models is unfortunately often associated with tumour formation or- uncontrolled
growth of the transplanted cells. One strategy to suppress this tumour formation might be
to induce differentiation of these cells, which in turn would prevent them from dividing.
Neuroblastoma tumors are known to demonstrate the complete transition from an
undifferentiated state to a completely harmful, differentiated appearance and derived cells
can be used as a model for cell differentiation and tumor suppression.
In this Master Thesis’s the conducting polymers PEDOT and PPy, that upon formation
can be doped with biologically active compounds which in- turn can be released in a
controlled manner through electrical stimulation, were formed together with various
drugs (e.g. Methotrexate and Mycophenolic Acid), here shown to have effect on
Neuroblastoma cells. Neuroblastoma- derived cell line SH- SY5Y was used as a model
system for neuronal differentiation and tumour inhibition. Release profiles of
neuroblastoma active drugs following electrical stimulation were evaluated and the
effects from electrochemical processes on simultaneously growing SH- SY5Y cells were
investigated.
The methods to deposit and release the drugs were based on electropolymerization and
electrochemically controlled release, respectively. Controlled release of various drugs
and compounds was monitored using Vis- and UV- spectroscopy and on some occasions
using HPLC.
The electrochemically controlled release of a biologically inactive compound that can be
used as a negative control for electrochemical release in future experiments was shown
and that resulting electrochemical processes have negative effects on neuroblastoma cell
growth.