Agata Stefanek

Mrs. Agata Stefanek


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

7Years (2020-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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16 January 2020 in Pharmaceutics
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
Khaled AbouAitahKhaled AbouAitah
Khaled AbouAitah
ASAgata Stefanek
Agata Stefanek
IHIman M. Higazy
Iman M. Higazy
MJMagdalena Janczewska
Magdalena Janczewska
ASAnna Swiderska-Sroda
Anna Swiderska-Sroda
Witold LojkowskiWitold Lojkowski
Witold Lojkowski
Targeted drug delivery offers great opportunities for treating cancer. Here, we developed a novel anticancer targeted delivery system for piperine (Pip), an alkaloid prodrug derived from black pepper that exhibits anticancer effects. The tailored delivery system comprises aggregated hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (HAPs) functionalized with phosphonate groups (HAP-Ps). Pip was loaded into HAPs and HAP-Ps at pH 7.2 and 9.3 to obtain nanoformulations. The nanoformulations were characterized using several techniques and the release kinetics and anticancer effects investigated in vitro. The Pip loading capacity was >20%. Prolonged release was observed with kinetics dependent on pH, surface modification, and coating. The nanoformulations fully inhibited monolayer HCT116 colon cancer cells compared to Caco2 colon cancer and MCF7 breast cancer cells after 72 h, whereas free Pip had a weaker effect. The nanoformulations inhibited ~60% in HCT116 spheroids compared to free Pip. The Pip-loaded nanoparticles were also coated with gum Arabic and functionalized with folic acid as a targeting ligand. These functionalized nanoformulations had the lowest cytotoxicity towards normal WI-38 fibroblast cells. These preliminary findings suggest that the targeted delivery system comprising HAP aggregates loaded with Pip, coated with gum Arabic, and functionalized with folic acid are a potentially efficient agent against colon cancer.

6 November 2023 in Chemical and Process Engineering: New Frontiers
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
PDF file
ASAgata Stefanek
Agata Stefanek
AKAleksandra Kulikowska-Darłak
Aleksandra Kulikowska-Darłak
KBKarolina Bogaj
Karolina Bogaj
ANAleksandra Nowak
Aleksandra Nowak
JDJoanna Dembska
Joanna Dembska
TCTomasz Ciach
Tomasz Ciach