Hyaluronan-modified superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles for bimodal breast cancer imaging and photothermal therapy

Tailor-made PEG-DA-CuS nanoparticles enriched in tumor with the aid of retro Diels-Alder reaction triggered by their intrinsic photothermal property

Introduction

In recent years, near-infrared laser-induced photothermal therapy is being considered as a promising approach to kill tumors owing to its noninvasive nature and excellent antitumor efficiency. However, the lack of ideal photothermal agents hinders further development of this technology.

Materials and methods

Aiming at solving this long-standing obstacle, we report here about the polyethylene glycol (PEG)-DA modified copper sulfide (CuS) nanoparticles (NPs) (PEG-DA-CuS NPs), a kind of semiconductor photothermal agents that show excellent photothermal stability and high heat conversion efficiency.

Results and discussion

Owing to the surrounding PEG, the water solubility of CuS NPs was significantly improved when circulating in blood in the body. When the NPs reached the tumors and were irradiated by a 1,064 nm laser (1 W/cm², 10 minutes), the local temperature increased above 90°C, triggering the retro Diels–Alder reaction. After the release of PEG chain, CuS NPs soon formed aggregates and enriched the tumor via the enhanced permeability and retention effect, promoting the efficacy of photothermal therapy.

Conclusion

Therefore, we believe PEG-DA-CuS NPs are able to serve as a kind of cytotoxic and efficient photothermal agent to kill cancer.

How can nanotechnology help the fight against breast cancer?

In this review we provide a broad overview on the use of nanotechnology for the fight against breast cancer (BC). Nowadays, detection, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention may be possible thanks to the application of nanotechnology to clinical practice. Taking into consideration the different forms of BC and the disease status, nanomaterials can be designed to meet the most forefront objectives of modern therapy and diagnosis. We have analyzed in detail three main groups of nanomaterial applications for BC treatment and diagnosis. We have identified several types of drugs successfully conjugated with nanomaterials. We have analyzed the main important imaging techniques and all nanomaterials used to help the non-invasive, early detection of the lesions. Moreover, we have examined theranostic nanomaterials as unique tools, combining imaging, detection, and therapy for BC. This state of the art review provides a useful guide depicting how nanotechnology can be used to overcome the current barriers in BC clinical practice, and how it will shape the future scenario of treatments, prevention, and diagnosis, revolutionizing the current approaches, e.g., reducing the suffering related to chemotherapy.

Iron Oxide Nanoparticles in Photothermal Therapy

Photothermal therapy is a kind of therapy based on increasing the temperature of tumoral cells above 42 °C. To this aim, cells must be illuminated with a laser, and the energy of the radiation is transformed in heat. Usually, the employed radiation belongs to the near-infrared radiation range. At this range, the absorption and scattering of the radiation by the body is minimal. Thus, tissues are almost transparent. To improve the efficacy and selectivity of the energy-to-heat transduction, a light-absorbing material, the photothermal agent, must be introduced into the tumor. At present, a vast array of compounds are available as photothermal agents. Among the substances used as photothermal agents, gold-based compounds are one of the most employed. However, the undefined toxicity of this metal hinders their clinical investigations in the long run. Magnetic nanoparticles are a good alternative for use as a photothermal agent in the treatment of tumors. Such nanoparticles, especially those formed by iron oxides, can be used in combination with other substances or used themselves as photothermal agents. The combination of magnetic nanoparticles with other photothermal agents adds more capabilities to the therapeutic system: the nanoparticles can be directed magnetically to the site of interest (the tumor) and their distribution in tumors and other organs can be imaged. When used alone, magnetic nanoparticles present, in theory, an important limitation: their molar absorption coefficient in the near infrared region is low. The controlled clustering of the nanoparticles can solve this drawback. In such conditions, the absorption of the indicated radiation is higher and the conversion of energy in heat is more efficient than in individual nanoparticles. On the other hand, it can be designed as a therapeutic system, in which the heat generated by magnetic nanoparticles after irradiation with infrared light can release a drug attached to the nanoparticles in a controlled manner. This form of targeted drug delivery seems to be a promising tool of chemo-phototherapy. Finally, the heating efficiency of iron oxide nanoparticles can be increased if the infrared radiation is combined with an alternating magnetic field.

Nanomedicine for cancer diagnosis and therapy: advancement, success and structure-activity relationship

Multifunctional nanoparticles (NPs), composed of organic and inorganic materials, have been explored as promising drug-delivery vehicles for cancer diagnosis and therapy. The success of nanosystems has been attributed to its smaller size, biocompatibility, selective tumor accumulation and reduced toxicity. The relationship among numbers of molecules in payload, NP diameter and encapsulation efficacy have crucial role in clinical translation. Advancement of bioengineering, and systematic fine-tuning of functional components to NPs have diversified their optical and theranostic properties. In this review, we summarize wide varieties of NPs, such as ultrasmall polymer-lipid hybrid NPs, dendrimers, liposomes, quantum dots, carbon nanotubes, gold NPs and iron oxide NPs. We also discuss their tumor targetability, tissue penetration, pharmacokinetics, and therapeutic and diagnostic properties. [Formula: see text].

Strategies on Nanodiagnostics and Nanotherapies of the Three Common Cancers

The emergence of nanomedicine has enriched the knowledge and strategies of treating diseases, and especially some incurable diseases, such as cancers, acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), and neurodegenerative diseases. The application of nanoparticles in medicine is in the core of nanomedicine. Nanoparticles can be used in drug delivery for improving the uptake of poorly soluble drugs, targeted delivery to a specific site, and drug bioavailability. Early diagnosis of and targeted therapies for cancers can significantly improve patients' quality of life and extend patients' lives. The advantages of nanoparticles have given them a progressively important role in the nanodiagnosis and nanotherapy of common cancers. To provide a reference for the further application of nanoparticles, this review focuses on the recent development and application of nanoparticles in the early diagnosis and treatment of the three common cancers (lung cancer, liver cancer, and breast cancer) by using quantum dots, magnetic nanoparticles, and gold nanoparticles.

Tri-block polymer with interfacial layer formation ability and its use in maintaining supersaturated drug solution after dissolution of solid dispersions

Background

Maintaining a supersaturated drug solution after the dissolution of the solid dispersions of water insoluble drugs continues to be a great challenge and is important to the oral bioavailability enhancement of hardly soluble drugs.

Methods

Nimodipine solid dispersions were prepared by hot-melt extrusion and a special tri-block polymer was employed as a co-carrier. The solid dispersions were characterized by modulated differential scanning calorimetry, transmission electron microscopy, hydrogen-nuclear magnetic resonance and so on.

Results

The tri-block polymer was able to inhibit the formation of drug crystals after dissolution of the solid dispersions. Due to the unique interfacial layer formation ability of the tri-block polymer, a special drug loading micelle which encapsulated the compound and the hydrophobic fragments of the copolymers appeared in the release media. The tri-block polymer was composed of a hydrophilic part forming the shell of micelles, a hydrophobic part shaping the core of micelles, and a special intermediate hydrophilicity part constructing the interfacial layer of micelles.

Conclusion

The tri-block polymer was not only able to stabilize the supersaturated drug solution of solid dispersions to enhance the oral bioavailability of hardly soluble drugs, but is also a potential candidate to construct micelles for systemic administration, due to the good compatibility and organic solvents free micelle formation procedure.

Decorated Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles with Monoclonal Antibody and Diethylene-Triamine-Pentaacetic Acid Labeled with Thechnetium-99m and Galium-68 for Breast Cancer Imaging

PURPOSE

In this study we developed and tested an iron oxide nanoparticle conjugated with DTPA and Trastuzumab, which can efficiently be radiolabeled with 99m-Tc and Ga-68, generating a nanoradiopharmaceutical agent to be used for SPECT and PET imaging.

METHODS

The production of iron oxide nanoparticle conjugated with DTPA and Trastuzumab was made using phosphorylethanolamine (PEA) surface modification. Both radiolabeling process was made by the direct radiolabeling of the nanoparticles. The in vivo assay was done in female Balb/c nude mice xenografted with breast cancer. Also a planar imaging using the radiolabeled nanoparticle was performed.

RESULTS

No thrombus and immune response leading to unwanted interaction and incorporation of nanoparticles by endothelium and organs, except filtration by the kidneys, was observed. In fact, more than 80% of ^99mTc-DTPA-TZMB@Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles seems to be cleared by the renal pathway but the implanted tumor whose seems to increase the expression of HER2 receptors enhancing the uptake by all other organs.

CONCLUSION

However, even in this unfavorable situation the tumor bioconcentrated much larger amounts of the nano-agent than normal tissues giving clear enough contrast for breast cancer imaging for diagnostics purpose by both SPECT and PET technique. Graphical Abstract ᅟ.

Nitroxide radical-modified CuS nanoparticles for CT/MRI imaging-guided NIR-II laser responsive photothermal cancer therapy

Herein, we reported nitroxide radical-modified CuS nanoparticles (CuS–NO˙ NPs), and they exhibited a typical absorption peak at 1182 nm. Due to such a long wavelength absorbance, CuS–NO˙ NPs exhibited excellent therapeutic outcome and low damage to normal tissues. Besides, we simultaneously achieved CuS–NO˙ NPs for MRI and CT dual-modal imaging, which successfully provided a new strategy for imaging-guided tumor treatment, thus increasing potential clinical applications for cancer treatment.

Herein, we reported nitroxide radical-modified CuS nanoparticles (CuS–NO˙ NPs), and they exhibited a typical absorption peak at 1182 nm.

Nanoparticles as Theranostic Vehicles in Experimental and Clinical Applications-Focus on Prostate and Breast Cancer

Prostate and breast cancer are the second most and most commonly diagnosed cancer in men and women worldwide, respectively. The American Cancer Society estimates that during 2016 in the USA around 430,000 individuals were diagnosed with one of these two types of cancers, and approximately 15% of them will die from the disease. In Europe, the rate of incidences and deaths are similar to those in the USA. Several different more or less successful diagnostic and therapeutic approaches have been developed and evaluated in order to tackle this issue and thereby decrease the death rates. By using nanoparticles as vehicles carrying both diagnostic and therapeutic molecular entities, individualized targeted theranostic nanomedicine has emerged as a promising option to increase the sensitivity and the specificity during diagnosis, as well as the likelihood of survival or prolonged survival after therapy. This article presents and discusses important and promising different kinds of nanoparticles, as well as imaging and therapy options, suitable for theranostic applications. The presentation of different nanoparticles and theranostic applications is quite general, but there is a special focus on prostate cancer. Some references and aspects regarding breast cancer are however also presented and discussed. Finally, the prostate cancer case is presented in more detail regarding diagnosis, staging, recurrence, metastases, and treatment options available today, followed by possible ways to move forward applying theranostics for both prostate and breast cancer based on promising experiments performed until today.

Hyaluronan-Inorganic Nanohybrid Materials for Biomedical Applications

Nanomaterials, including gold, silver, and magnetic nanoparticles, carbon, and mesoporous materials, possess unique physiochemical and biological properties, thus offering promising applications in biomedicine, such as in drug delivery, biosensing, molecular imaging, and therapy. Recent advances in nanotechnology have improved the features and properties of nanomaterials. However, these nanomaterials are potentially cytotoxic and demonstrate a lack of cell-specific function. Thus, they have been functionalized with various polymers, especially polysaccharides, to reduce toxicity and improve biocompatibility and stability under physiological conditions. In particular, nanomaterials have been widely functionalized with hyaluronan (HA) to enhance their distribution in specific cells and tissues. This review highlights the most recent advances on HA-functionalized nanomaterials for biotechnological and biomedical applications, as nanocarriers in drug delivery, contrast agents in molecular imaging, and diagnostic agents in cancer therapy. A critical evaluation of barriers affecting the use of HA-functionalized nanomaterials is also discussed, and insights into the outlook of the field are explored.