Nanovectorization of TRAIL with single wall carbon nanotubes enhances tumor cell killing

Transformable DNA nanocarriers for plasma membrane targeted delivery of cytokine

Direct delivery of cytokines using nanocarriers holds great promise for cancer therapy. However, the nanometric scale of the vehicles made them susceptible to size-dependent endocytosis, reducing the plasma membrane-associated apoptosis signaling. Herein, we report a tumor microenvironment-responsive and transformable nanocarrier for cell membrane targeted delivery of cytokine. This formulation is comprised of a phospholipase A2 (PLA2) degradable liposome as a shell, and complementary DNA nanostructures (designated as nanoclews) decorated with cytokines as the cores. Utilizing the tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) as a model cytokine, we demonstrate that the TRAIL loaded DNA nanoclews are capable of transforming into nanofibers after PLA2 activation. The nanofibers with micro-scaled lengths efficiently present the loaded TRAIL to death receptors on the cancer cell membrane and amplified the apoptotic signaling with reduced TRAIL internalization.

Co-assembled hybrids of proteins and carbon dots for intracellular protein delivery

Co-assembled hybrids of carbon dots and proteins protect proteins against enzymatic hydrolysis and deliver them into HeLa cells.

Encapsulation capacity and natural payload delivery of an anticancer drug from boron nitride nanotube

Payload delivery of anticancer cisplatin molecules assisted by the cell membrane lipid.

Marine Drugs Regulating Apoptosis Induced by Tumor Necrosis Factor-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand (TRAIL)

Marine biomass diversity is a tremendous source of potential anticancer compounds. Several natural marine products have been described to restore tumor cell sensitivity to TNF-related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL)-induced cell death. TRAIL is involved during tumor immune surveillance. Its selectivity for cancer cells has attracted much attention in oncology. This review aims at discussing the main mechanisms by which TRAIL signaling is regulated and presenting how marine bioactive compounds have been found, so far, to overcome TRAIL resistance in tumor cells.

DFT, QTAIM, and NBO investigations of the ability of the Fe or Ni doped CNT to absorb and sense CO and NO

The structures and intramolecular interactions of complexes (FeCNT-CO, FeCNT-NO, NiCNT-CO, and NiCNT-NO) formed by the Fe or Ni doped single-wall carbon nanotube (FeCNT or NiCNT) and gas CO or NO were studied using density functional theory, quantum theory of atom in molecule (QTAIM), and natural bond orbital methods. The adsorption processes of CO and NO on surfaces of FeCNT and NiCNT are chemisorption, energetically favored, exothermic, and spontaneous. High temperature is not good for adsorption. Introducing NO more obviously elongates the distances between Fe/Ni and C atoms and decreases ∠CFe(Ni)C than adding CO. QTAIM analysis shows that the covalent bonding interactions of FeCNT-NO (NiCNT-NO) are stronger than that of FeCNT-CO (NiCNT-CO). NO plays a role of electron acceptor while CO is electron donator in complexes. Electrostatic interaction of FeCNT-NO (NiCNT-NO) is stronger than that of FeCNT-CO (NiCNT-CO). The stronger intramolecular interactions of FeCNT-NO and NiCNT-NO reveal that FeCNT and NiCNT are more effective to adsorb and sense NO than CO. CO and NO considerably change the electronic properties of FeCNT and NiCNT, which is useful for designing sensors for CO and NO.