Development of Ionic-Liquid-based Devices for the Removal of Cytostatic Drugs from Urine Excreted by Cancer Patients

Abstract

Cytostatics are one of the most used therapeutic options in the treatment of cancer. However, these drugs are toxic, so their handling and elimination are sources of risk. With advances in oral procedures, chemotherapy can be complemented and/or replaced by treatments in the home environment, where excretion of cytostatics, which occurs through urine, can lead to contamination of surface water, since urine flows into the sewage system, reaching wastewater treatment plants that are unable to remove this type of compounds. Given the potential shown by Ionic Liquids (ILs) to remove aqueous drugs, materials will be prepared using Supported Ionic Liquids (SILs). These SILs will be incorporated into a device to be used by cancer patients when urinating. After saturation, cytostatics will be removed and treated, and the SILs/device will be recycled.