Francesca Greco

Email:
f.greco@reading.ac.uk
Phone:
+44 (0) 118 378 8244
Job title:
Professor of Pharmaceutics

Responsibilities:

Pharmacy Examinations Officer

Background

Statistics show that one in three people develops cancer and one in four dies from it. It is clear that there is an urgent need to develop new therapeutics that are able to act more selectively on tumour cells. Polymer-anticancer drug conjugates are nano-sized medicines where anticancer drugs are covalently bound to a polymeric platform. Due to the hyperpermeability of tumour vasculature, they are able to accumulate preferentially in the tumour tissue (passive targeting).

>The linker between the drug and the polymer is designed to be cleaved following endocytic uptake by tumour cells. A number of polymer drug conjugates have now entered clinical evaluation and they are showing considerable promise.

Recently we have suggested the use of a single polymeric carrier to simultaneously deliver the combination of endocrine therapy and chemotherapy for the treatment of breast cancer. This conjugate was markedly more effective than the conjugates carrying individual drugs or their mixture.

My main interest is to elucidate the exact mechanism of action of these nano-sized constructs at cellular level.

Publications

Mitry, M. , Greco, F. , Osborn, H. (2023) In vivo applications of bioorthogonal reactions- chemistry and targeting mechanisms. Chemistry - A European Journal ISSN: 0947-6539

Aljuaid, N. , Seitsonen, J. , Ruokolainen, J. , Greco, F. ORCID: 0000-0001-7934-0056 , Hamley, I. ORCID: 0000-0002-4549-0926 (2022) Micelle and nanotape formation of Benzene Tricarboxamide analogues with selective cancer cell cytotoxicity. ACS Omega , 7 (50). pp. 46843-46848. ISSN: 2470-1343 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.2c05940
Khater, M. , Brazier, J. , Greco, F. , Osborn, H. (2022) Anticancer evaluation of new organometallic ruthenium(II) flavone complexes. Medicinal Chemistry ISSN: 2632-8682 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1039/D2MD00304J
Khater, M. , Watson, K. ORCID: 0000-0002-9987-8539 , Boateng, S. , Greco, F. , Osborn, H. (2022) Halogenated flavonoid derivatives display antiangiogenic activity. Molecules , 27 (15). ISSN: 1420-3049 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/molecules27154757
Iflaifel, M. , Lim, R. ORCID: 0000-0003-1705-1480 , Crowley, C. , Greco, F. , Iedema, R. (2022) Using video reflexive ethnography to explore the use of variable rate intravenous insulin infusions. BMC Health Services Research , 22 ISSN: 1472-6963 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12913-022-07883-w
Dodd, A. , Natfji, A. ORCID: 0000-0002-6168-4632 , Evangelinos, A. , Grigoletto, A. , Pasut, G. , Beards, F. , Renshall, L. , Osborn, H. , Greco, F. , Harris, L. (2022) Conjugation to PEG as a strategy to limit the uptake of drugs by the placenta: potential applications for drug administration in pregnancy. Molecular Pharmaceutics , 19 (1). pp. 345-353. ISSN: 1543-8392 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.1c00498

Dawood, D. , Srour, A. , Saleh, D. , Huff, K. , Greco, F. , Osborn, H. (2021) New pyridine and chromene scaffolds as potent vasorelaxant and anticancer agents. RSC Advances , 11 pp. 29441-29452. ISSN: 2046-2069 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1039/D1RA04758B
Iflaifel, M. , Lim, R. ORCID: 0000-0003-1705-1480 , Crowley, C. , Greco, F. , Ryan, K. , Iedema, R. (2021) Modelling the use of variable rate intravenous insulin infusions in hospitals by comparing Work as Done with Work as Imagined. Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy ISSN: 1934-8150 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.sapharm.2021.06.008
Iflaifel, M. , Lim, R. ORCID: 0000-0003-1705-1480 , Crowley, C. , Ryan, K. , Greco, F. (2021) A detailed analysis of ‘Work As Imagined’ in the use of intravenous insulin infusions in a hospital: a hierarchical task analysis. BMJ Open , 11 (3). ISSN: 2044-6055 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2020-041848

Khater, M. , Greco, F. , Osborn, H. (2020) Antiangiogenic activity of flavonoids: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Molecules , 25 (20). ISSN: 1420-3049 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/molecules25204712
Salimi, S. , Wu, Y. , Evangelista Barreiros, M. , Natfji, A. , Khaled, S. , Wildman, R. , Hart, L. , Greco, F. , Clark, E. , Roberts, C. , Hayes, W. (2020) A 3D printed drug delivery implant formed from a dynamic supramolecular polyurethane formulation. Polymer Chemistry , 11 (20). pp. 3453-3464. ISSN: 1759-9954 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1039/D0PY00068J
Natfji, A. , Nikitin, D. , Semina, I. , Moustafine, R. , Khutoryanskiy, V. , Lin, H. , Stephens, G. , Watson, K. , Osborn, H. , Greco, F. (2020) Conjugation of haloperidol to PEG allows peripheral localisation of haloperidol and eliminates CNS extrapyramidal effects. Journal of Controlled Release , 322 pp. 227-235. ISSN: 0168-3659 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jconrel.2020.02.037

Khater, M. , Ravishankar, D. , Greco, F. , Osborn, H. (2019) Metal complexes of flavonoids: their synthesis, characterization, and enhanced anti-oxidant and anti-cancer activities. Future Medicinal Chemistry , 11 (21). ISSN: 1756-8927 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.4155/fmc-2019-0237
Castelletto, V. , Edwards-Gayle, C. , Greco, F. , Hamley, I. , Seitsonen, J. , Ruokolainen, J. (2019) Self-assembly, tunable hydrogel properties and selective anti-cancer activity of a carnosine-derived lipidated peptide. Applied Materials & Interfaces , 11 (37). pp. 33573-33580. ISSN: 1944-8244 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acsami.9b09065
Wahlich, J. , Desai, A. , Greco, F. , Hill, K. , Jones, A. , Mrsny, R. , Pasut, G. , Perrie, Y. , Seib, F. , Seymour, L. , Uchegbu, I. (2019) Nanomedicines for the delivery of biologics. Pharmaceutics , 11 (5). ISSN: 1999-4923 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics11050210
Edwards-Gayle, C. , Castelletto, V. , Hamley, I. , Barrett, G. , Greco, F. , Hermida-Merino, D. , Rambo, R. , Seitsonen, J. , Ruokolainen, J. (2019) Self-assembly, antimicrobial activity, and membrane interactions of arginine-capped peptide bola-amphiphiles. ACS Applied Bio Materials , 2 (5). pp. 2208-2218. ISSN: 2576-6422 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acsabm.9b00172
Castelletto, V. , Barnes, R. , Karatzas, K. , Edwards-Gayle, C. , Greco, F. , Hamley, I. ORCID: 0000-0002-4549-0926 , Seitsonen, J. , Ruokolainen, J. (2019) Restructuring of lipid membranes by an arginine-capped peptide bolaamphiphile. Langmuir , 35 (5). pp. 1302-1311. ISSN: 0743-7463 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.langmuir.8b01014

Gadd, A. , Castelletto, V. , Kabova, E. , Shankland, K. , Perrie, Y. , Hamley, I. , Cobb, A. , Greco, F. , Edwards, A. (2018) High potency of lipid conjugated TLR7 agonist requires nanoparticulate or liposomal formulation. European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences , 123 pp. 268-276. ISSN: 0928-0987 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ejps.2018.07.048
Ravishankar, D. , Salamah, M. , Akimbaev, A. , Williams, H. , Albadawi, D. , Vaiyapuri, R. , Greco, F. , Osborn, H. , Vaiyapuri, S. (2018) Impact of specific functional groups in flavonoids on the modulation of platelet activation. Scientific Reports , 8 ISSN: 2045-2322 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-27809-z
Castelletto, V. , Barnes, R. , Karatzas, K. , Edwards-Gayle, C. , Greco, F. , Hamley, I. , Rambo, R. , Seitsonen, J. , Ruokolainen, J. (2018) Arginine-containing surfactant-like peptides: interaction with lipid membranes and antimicrobial activity. Biomacromolecules , 19 (7). pp. 2782-2794. ISSN: 1525-7797 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.biomac.8b00391
Edwards-Gayle, C. , Greco, F. , Hamley, I. , Rambo, R. , Reza, M. , Ruokolainen, J. , Skoulas, D. , Iatrou, H. (2018) Self-assembly of telechelic tyrosine end-capped PEO star polymers in aqueous solution. Biomacromolecules , 19 (1). pp. 167-177. ISSN: 1525-7797 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.biomac.7b01420

Natfji, A. , Osborn, H. , Greco, F. (2017) Feasibility of polymer-drug conjugates for non-cancer applications. Current Opinion in Colloid & Interface Science , 31 pp. 51-66. ISSN: 1359-0294 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cocis.2017.07.004
Natfji, A. , Ravishankar, D. , Osborn, H. , Greco, F. (2017) Parameters affecting the enhanced permeability and retention effect: the need for patient selection. Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences , 106 (11). pp. 3179-3187. ISSN: 0022-3549 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.xphs.2017.06.019
Wilde, M. , Green, R. , Sanders, M. , Greco, F. (2017) Biophysical studies in polymer therapeutics: the interactions of anionic and cationic PAMAM dendrimers with lipid monolayers. Journal of Drug Targeting , 25 (9-10). pp. 910-918. ISSN: 1029-2330 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1061186X.2017.1365877
Ravishankar, D. , Salamah, M. , Attina, A. , Pothi, R. , Vallance, T. , Javed, M. , Williams, H. , Alzahrani, E. , Kabova, E. , Vaiyapuri, R. , Shankland, K. , Gibbins, J. , Strohfeldt, K. , Greco, F. , Osborn, H. , Vaiyapuri, S. (2017) Ruthenium-conjugated chrysin analogues modulate platelet activity, thrombus formation and haemostasis with enhanced efficacy. Scientific Reports , 7 ISSN: 2045-2322 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-05936-3

Heath, F. , Newman, A. , Clementi, C. , Pasut, G. , Lin, H. , Stephens, G. , Whalley, B. , Osborn, H. , Greco, F. (2016) A novel PEG–haloperidol conjugate with a non-degradable linker shows the feasibility of using polymer–drug conjugates in a non-prodrug fashion. Polymer Chemistry , 7 (47). pp. 7204-7210. ISSN: 1759-9954 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1039/c6py01418f
Ravishankar, D. , Corona, G. , Hogan, S. , Spencer, J. , Greco, F. , Osborn, H. (2016) Thioflavones as novel neuroprotective agents. Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry , 24 (21). pp. 5513-5520. ISSN: 0968-0896 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bmc.2016.09.006
Baker, B. , Higgins, C. , Ravishankar, D. , Colquhoun, H. , Stevens, G. , Greco, F. , Greenland, B. , Hayes, W. (2016) Multifunctional, biocompatible, non-peptidic hydrogels: from water purification to drug delivery. Chemistry Select , 1 (8). pp. 1641-1649. ISSN: 2365-6549 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1002/slct.201600249
Ravishankar, D. , Watson, K. , Greco, F. , Osborn, H. (2016) Novel synthesised flavone derivatives provide significant insight into the structural features required for enhanced anti-proliferative activity. RSC Advances , 6 (69). pp. 64544-64556. ISSN: 2046-2069 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1039/C6RA11041J
Sartain, F. , Greco, F. , Hill, K. , Rannard, S. , Owen, A. (2016) Emerging nanomedicine applications and manufacturing: progress and challenges. Nanomedicine , 11 (6). pp. 577-580. ISSN: 1748-6963 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.2217/nnm.16.17
Feula, A. , Tang, X. , Giannakopoulos, I. , Chippindale, A. , Hamley, I. , Greco, F. , Buckley, C. , Siviour, C. , Hayes, W. (2016) An adhesive elastomeric supramolecular polyurethane healable at body temperature. Chemical Science , 7 (7). pp. 4291-4300. ISSN: 2041-6539 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1039/C5SC04864H

Phillips, D. , Wilde, M. , Greco, F. , Gibson, M. (2015) Enzymatically-triggered, isothermally responsive polymers: re-programming poly(oligoethylene glycols) to respond to phosphatase. Biomacromolecules , 16 (10). pp. 3256-3264. ISSN: 1525-7797 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.biomac.5b00929
Gadd, A. , Greco, F. , Cobb, A. , Edwards, A. (2015) Targeted activation of toll-like receptors: conjugation of a toll-like receptor 7 agonist to a monoclonal antibody maintains antigen binding and specificity. Bioconjugate Chemistry , 26 (8). pp. 1743-1752. ISSN: 1043-1802 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.5b00302
Ravishankar, D. , Watson, K. , Boateng, S. , Green, R. , Greco, F. , Osborn, H. (2015) Exploring quercetin and luteolin derivatives as antiangiogenic agents. European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry , 97 pp. 259-274. ISSN: 0223-5234 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ejmech.2015.04.056

Rajora, A. , Ravishankar, D. , Osborn, H. , Greco, F. (2014) Impact of the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect and cathepsins levels on the activity of polymer-drug conjugates. Polymers , 6 (8). pp. 2186-2220. ISSN: 2073-4360 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/polym6082186
Fante, C. and Greco, F. (2014) Polymer-drug conjugates. In: Bader, R. and Putnam, D. , (eds.) Engineering polymer systems for improved drug delivery. John Wiley & Sons , Hoboken N.J.. pp. 59-61. ISBN: 9781118098479

Fante, C. and Greco, F. (2013) Polymer-drug conjugates. In: Uchegbu, I. , Shatzlein, A. , Cheng, W. , Lalatsa, A. , (eds.) Fundamentals of Pharmaceutical Nanoscience. Springer , London. ISBN: 9781461491637
Ravishankar, D. , Rajora, A. , Greco, F. , Osborn, H. (2013) Flavonoids as prospective compounds for anti-cancer therapy. International Journal of Biochemistry and Cell Biology , 45 (12). pp. 2821-2831. ISSN: 1878-5875 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biocel.2013.10.004
Arif, I. , Hooper, C. , Greco, F. , Williams, A. , Boateng, S. (2013) Increasing doxorubicin activity against breast cancer cells using PPARγ-ligands and by exploiting circadian rhythms. British Journal of Pharmacology , 169 (5). pp. 1178-1188. ISSN: 1476-5381 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/bph.12202
Acton, A. , Fante, C. , Flatley, B. , Burattini, S. , Hamley, I. , Wang, Z. , Greco, F. , Hayes, W. (2013) Janus PEG-based dendrimers for use in combination therapy: controlled multi-drug loading and sequential release. Biomacromolecules , 14 (2). pp. 564-574. ISSN: 1525-7797 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1021/bm301881h
Greco, F. , Arif, I. , Botting , R. , Fante, C. , Quintieri, L. , Clementi, C. , Schiavon, O. , Pasut, G. (2013) Polysialic acid as a drug carrier: evaluation of a new polysialic acid–epirubicin conjugate and its comparison against established drug carriers. Polymer Chemistry , 4 pp. 1600-1609. ISSN: 1759-9954 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1039/C2PY20876H

Fante, C. , Eldar-Boock, A. , Satchi-Fainaro, R. , Osborn, H. , Greco, F. (2011) Synthesis and biological evaluation of a polyglutamic acid-dopamine conjugate: a new antiangiogenic agent. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry , 54 (14). pp. 5255-5259. ISSN: 0022-2623 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1021/jm200382r
Blencowe, C. , Russell, A. , Greco, F. , Hayes, W. , Thornthwaite, D. (2011) Self-immolative linkers in polymeric delivery systems. Polymer Chemistry , 2 (4). pp. 773-790. ISSN: 1759-9954 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1039/C0PY00324G

Pasut, G. , Greco, F. , Mero, A. , Mendichi, R. , Fante, C. , Green, R. , Veronese, F. (2009) Polymer-drug conjugates for combination anticancer therapy: investigating the mechanism of action.. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry , 52 (20). pp. 6499-6502. ISSN: 0022-2623 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1021/jm900804m
Greco, F. and Vicent, M. (2009) Combination therapy: opportunities and challenges for polymer-drug conjugates as anticancer nanomedicines.. Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews , 61 (13). pp. 1203-1213. ISSN: 0169-409X | doi: DOI:10.1016/j.addr.2009.05.006

Greco, . and Vicent, . (2008) Polymer-drug conjugates: current status and future trends. Frontiers in Bioscience , 13 pp. 2744-2756. ISSN: 1093-9946 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.2741/2882
Bonjoch, J. , Drew, M. , Gonzalez, A. , Greco, F. , Jawaid, S. , Osborn, H. , Williams, N. , Yaqoob, P. (2008) Synthesis and evaluation of novel boron-containing complexes of potential use for the selective treatment of malignant melanoma. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry , 51 (20). pp. 6604-6608. ISSN: 0022-2623 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1021/jm8007745

Greco, . , Vicent, . , Gee, . , Jones, . , Gee, . , Nicholson, . , Duncan, . (2007) Investigating the mechanism of enhanced cytotoxicity of HPMA copolymer-Dox-AGM in breast cancer cells. Journal of Controlled Release , 117 (1). pp. 28-39. ISSN: 0168-3659 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jconrel.2006.10.012

Bettio, . , Canevari, . , Marzano, . , Bordin, . , Guiotto, . , Greco, . , Duncan, . , Veronese, . (2006) Synthesis and biological in vitro evaluation of novel PEG-psoralen conjugates. Biomacromolecules , 7 (12). pp. 3534-3541. ISSN: 1525-7797 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1021/bm060760n

Greco, F. , Vicent, M. , Penning, N. , Nicholson, R. , Duncan, R. (2005) HPMA copolymer-aminoglutethimide conjugates inhibit aromatase in MCF-7 cell lines. Journal of Drug Targeting , 13 (8-9). pp. 459-470. ISSN: 1061-186X | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10611860500383788
Vicent, M. , Greco, F. , Nicholson, R. , Paul, A. , Griffiths , P. , Duncan, R. (2005) Polymer therapeutics designed for a combination therapy of hormone-dependent cancer. Angewandte Chemie-International Edition , 44 (26). pp. 4061-4066. ISSN: 1521-3773 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1002/anie.200462960
Duncan, R. , Vicent, M. , Greco, F. , Nicholson, R. (2005) Polymer-drug conjugates: towards a novel approach for the treatment of endrocine-related cancer. Endocrine related cancer , 12 pp. S189-S199. ISSN: 1479-6821 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1677/erc.1.01045

Francesca Greco

Background

Publications

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2022

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2005