Developing Nanoceria-Based pH-Dependent Cancer-Directed Drug Delivery System for Retinoblastoma

Oxygen/Nitric Oxide Dual-Releasing Nanozyme for Augmenting TMZ-Mediated Apoptosis and Necrosis

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and aggressive malignant brain tumor, with a poor prognosis. Temozolomide (TMZ) represents the standard chemotherapy for GBM but has limited efficacy due to poor targeting and a hypoxic tumor microenvironment (TME). To address these challenges, we developed a dual-gas-releasing, cancer-cell-membrane-camouflaged nanoparticle to deliver TMZ. This nanoceria, camouflaged with a cancer cell membrane (CCM-CeO2), targets explicitly GBM cells and accumulates in lysosomes, triggering the rapid release of TMZ. Additionally, CCM-CeO2 could release oxygen (O2) and nitric oxide (NO) in response to the TME. Synthesized using d-arginine, catalytic nanoceria could decompose excessive hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in the TME to produce O2, while d-arginine could nonenzymatically react with H2O2 to generate NO. CCM-CeO2 could penetrate GBM spheroids to a depth of 148.3 ± 31 μm, with the O2 and NO produced, reducing HIF-1α protein expression. When loaded with TMZ, CCM-CeO2 could increase the intracellular ROS produced by TMZ, leading to lysosome membrane permeabilization and notably augmented apoptosis and necrosis in GBM cells. An in vitro antitumor assay using spheroids showed that CCM-CeO2 reduced the IC50 value of TMZ from 174.5 to 42.6 μg/mL, likely due to the catalase-like activity of nanoceria. These results suggest that alleviating hypoxia and increasing ROS produced by chemotherapeutics could be an effective therapeutic strategy for treating GBM.

Dehydrocurvularin-loaded mPEG-PLGA nanoparticles for targeted breast cancer drug delivery: preparation, characterization, in vitro, and in vivo evaluation

Dehydrocurvularin (DCV) is a promising lead compound for anti-cancer therapy. Unfortunately, the development of DCV-based drugs has been hampered by its poor solubility and bioavailability. Herein, we prepared a DCV-loaded mPEG-PLGA nanoparticles (DCV-NPs) with improved drug properties and therapeutic efficacy. The spherical and discrete particles of DCV-NPs had a uniform diameter of 101.8 ± 0.45 nm and negative zeta potential of -22.5 ± 1.12 mV (pH = 7.4), and its entrapment efficiency (EE) and drug loading (DL) were ∼53.28 ± 1.12 and 10.23 ± 0.30%, respectively. In vitro the release of DCV-NPs lasted for more than 120 h in a sustained-release pattern, its antiproliferation efficacy towards breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, and 4T1) was better than that of starting drug DCV, and it could be efficiently and rapidly internalised by breast cancer cells. In vivo DCV-NPs were gradually accumulated in tumour areas of mice and significantly suppressed tumour growth. In summary, loading water-insoluble DCV onto nanoparticles has the potential to be an effective agent for breast cancer therapy with injectable property and tumour targeting capacity.

Multifunctional scaffolds for bone repair following age-related biological decline: Promising prospects for smart biomaterial-driven technologies

The repair of large bone defects due to trauma, disease, and infection can be exceptionally challenging in the elderly. Despite best clinical practice, bone regeneration within contemporary, surgically implanted synthetic scaffolds is often problematic, inconsistent, and insufficient where additional osteobiological support is required to restore bone. Emergent smart multifunctional biomaterials may drive important and dynamic cellular crosstalk that directly targets, signals, stimulates, and promotes an innate bone repair response following age-related biological decline and when in the presence of disease or infection. However, their role remains largely undetermined. By highlighting their mechanism/s and mode/s of action, this review spotlights smart technologies that favorably align in their conceivable ability to directly target and enhance bone repair and thus are highly promising for future discovery for use in the elderly. The four degrees of interactive scaffold smartness are presented, with a focus on bioactive, bioresponsive, and the yet-to-be-developed autonomous scaffold activity. Further, cell- and biomolecular-assisted approaches were excluded, allowing for contemporary examination of the capabilities, demands, vision, and future requisites of next-generation biomaterial-induced technologies only. Data strongly supports that smart scaffolds hold significant promise in the promotion of bone repair in patients with a reduced osteobiological response. Importantly, many techniques have yet to be tested in preclinical models of aging. Thus, greater clarity on their proficiency to counteract the many unresolved challenges within the scope of aging bone is highly warranted and is arguably the next frontier in the field. This review demonstrates that the use of multifunctional smart synthetic scaffolds with an engineered strategy to circumvent the biological insufficiencies associated with aging bone is a viable route for achieving next-generation therapeutic success in the elderly population.

Advancements in the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of retinoblastoma

Retinoblastoma (RB) is a prevalent primitive intraocular malignancy in children, particularly in those younger than age 3 years. RB is caused by mutations in the RB1 gene. In developing countries, mortality rates for this type of cancer are still high, whereas industrialized countries have achieved a survival rate of >95%-98%. Untreated, the condition can be fatal, underscoring the importance of early diagnosis. The existing treatments primarily consist of surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. The detrimental effects of radiation and chemotherapeutic drugs have been documented as factors that contribute to increased mortality rates and negatively affect the quality of life for patients. MicroRNA (miRNA), a type of noncoding RNA, exerts a substantial influence on RB development and the emergence of treatment resistance by regulating diverse cellular processes. This review highlights recent developments in the involvement of miRNAs in RB. This encompasses the clinical significance of miRNAs in the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of RB. Additionally, this paper examines the regulatory mechanisms of miRNAs in RB and explores potential therapeutic interventions. This paper provides an overview of the current and emerging treatment options for RB, focusing on recent studies investigating the application of different types of nanoparticles for the diagnosis and treatment of this condition.

Doxorubicin-loaded DNA origami nanostructures: stability in vitreous and their uptake and toxicity in ocular cells

Biocompatibility and precise control over their size and shape make DNA origami nanostructures (DONs) promising for drug delivery applications. Whilst many investigations have focused on cancer treatment, this might not be the best fit for DONs that get degraded by nucleases in blood. In comparison, an eye is a uniquely isolated target organ, which could benefit from DONs to achieve and maintain therapeutic concentrations in diseases that threaten the eyesight of millions of patients every year. We investigated the loading of doxorubicin (DOX) as a model drug into three distinct DONs and tested their stability upon storage. Further, we chose one structure (24HB) to probe its stability under physiological conditions in cell media and porcine vitreous, before examining the uptake and effect of DOX-loaded 24HB (24HB-DOX) on the cell viability in a retinal cell line (ARPE-19). Similar to previous reports, the tested low μM loading concentrations of DOX resulted in high drug loadings of up to 34% (m/m), and remained mostly intact in water for at least 2 months at 4 °C. In cell media and porcine vitreous at 37 °C, however, 24HB required additional Mg2+ supplementation to avoid degradation and the loss of the attached fluorophores. With added Mg2+, 24HB remained stable in vitreous for 7 days at 37 °C. The treatment with 24HB-DOX was well tolerated by ARPE-19 cells, compared to the observed higher toxicity of free DOX. Uptake studies revealed, however, that in contrast to free DOX, very little 24HB-DOX was taken up by the cells. Instead, the particles were observed to attach around the cells. Hence, our results suggest that since the uptake seems to be the bottleneck for therapies using DONs, further strategies such as adding ocular targeting moieties are necessary to increase the uptake and efficacy of doxorubicin-loaded DONs.

Fatty acid conjugated EPI-X4 derivatives with increased activity and in vivo stability

Dysregulation of the CXCL12/CXCR4 axis is implicated in autoimmune, inflammatory, and oncogenic diseases, positioning CXCR4 as a pivotal therapeutic target. We evaluated optimized variants of the specific endogenous CXCR4 antagonist, EPI-X4, addressing existing challenges in stability and potency. Our structure-activity relationship study investigates the conjugation of EPI-X4 derivatives with long-chain fatty acids, enhancing serum albumin interaction and receptor affinity. Molecular dynamic simulations revealed that the lipid moieties stabilize the peptide-receptor interaction through hydrophobic contacts at the receptor's N-terminus, anchoring the lipopeptide within the CXCR4 binding pocket and maintaining essential receptor interactions. Accordingly, lipidation resulted in increased receptor affinities and antagonistic activities. Additionally, by interacting with human serum albumin lipidated EPI-X4 derivatives displayed sustained stability in human plasma and extended circulation times in vivo. Selected candidates showed significant therapeutic potential in human retinoblastoma cells in vitro and in ovo, with our lead derivative exhibiting higher efficacies compared to its non-lipidated counterpart. This study not only elucidates the optimization trajectory for EPI-X4 derivatives but also underscores the intricate interplay between stability and efficacy, crucial for delineating their translational potential in clinical applications.

Harnessing cerium-based biomaterials for the treatment of bone diseases

Bone, an actively metabolic organ, undergoes constant remodeling throughout life. Disturbances in the bone microenvironment can be responsible for pathologically bone diseases such as periodontitis, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis. Conventional bone tissue biomaterials are not adequately adapted to complex bone microenvironment. Therefore, there is an urgent clinical need to find an effective strategy to improve the status quo. In recent years, nanotechnology has caused a revolution in biomedicine. Cerium(III, IV) oxide, as an important member of metal oxide nanomaterials, has dual redox properties through reversible binding with oxygen atoms, which continuously cycle between Ce(III) and Ce(IV). Due to its special physicochemical properties, cerium(III, IV) oxide has received widespread attention as a versatile nanomaterial, especially in bone diseases. This review describes the characteristics of bone microenvironment. The enzyme-like properties and biosafety of cerium(III, IV) oxide are also emphasized. Meanwhile, we summarizes controllable synthesis of cerium(III, IV) oxide with different nanostructural morphologies. Following resolution of synthetic principles of cerium(III, IV) oxide, a variety of tailored cerium-based biomaterials have been widely developed, including bioactive glasses, scaffolds, nanomembranes, coatings, and nanocomposites. Furthermore, we highlight the latest advances in cerium-based biomaterials for inflammatory and metabolic bone diseases and bone-related tumors. Tailored cerium-based biomaterials have already demonstrated their value in disease prevention, diagnosis (imaging and biosensors) and treatment. Therefore, it is important to assist in bone disease management by clarifying tailored properties of cerium(III, IV) oxide in order to promote the use of cerium-based biomaterials in the future clinical setting. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: In this review, we focused on the promising of cerium-based biomaterials for bone diseases. We reviewed the key role of bone microenvironment in bone diseases and the main biological activities of cerium(III, IV) oxide. By setting different synthesis conditions, cerium(III, IV) oxide nanostructures with different morphologies can be controlled. Meanwhile, tailored cerium-based biomaterials can serve as a versatile toolbox (e.g., bioactive glasses, scaffolds, nanofibrous membranes, coatings, and nanocomposites). Then, the latest research advances based on cerium-based biomaterials for the treatment of bone diseases were also highlighted. Most importantly, we analyzed the perspectives and challenges of cerium-based biomaterials. In future perspectives, this insight has given rise to a cascade of cerium-based biomaterial strategies, including disease prevention, diagnosis (imaging and biosensors) and treatment.

Retinoblastoma: An update on genetic origin, classification, conventional to next-generation treatment strategies

The most prevalent paediatric vision-threatening medical condition, retinoblastoma (RB), has been a global concern for a long time. Several conventional therapies, such as systemic chemotherapy and focal therapy, have been used for curative purposes; however, the search for tumour eradication with the least impact on surrounding tissues is still ongoing. This review focuses on the genetic origin, classification, conventional treatment modalities, and their combination with nano-scale delivery systems for active tumour targeting. In addition, the review also delves into ongoing clinical trials and patents, as well as emerging therapies such as gene therapy and immunotherapy for the treatment of RB. Understanding the role of genetics in the development of RB has refined its treatment strategy according to the genetic type. New approaches such as nanostructured drug delivery systems, galenic preparations, nutlin-3a, histone deacetylase inhibitors, N-MYC inhibitors, pentoxifylline, immunotherapy, gene therapy, etc. discussed in this review, have the potential to circumvent the limitations of conventional therapies and improve treatment outcomes for RB. In summary, this review highlights the importance and need for novel approaches as alternative therapies that would ultimately displace the shortcomings associated with conventional therapies and reduce the enucleation rate, thereby preserving global vision in the affected paediatric population.

Fostering the unleashing potential of nanocarriers-mediated delivery of ocular therapeutics

Ocular delivery is the most challenging aspect in the field of pharmaceutical research. The major hurdle for the controlled delivery of drugs to the eye includes the physiological static barriers such as the complex layers of the cornea, sclera and retina which restrict the drug from permeating into the anterior and posterior segments of the eye. Recent years have witnessed inventions in the field of conventional and nanocarrier drug delivery which have shown considerable enhancement in delivering small to large molecules across the eye. The dynamic challenges associated with conventional systems include limited drug contact time and inadequate ocular bioavailability resulting from solution drainage, tear turnover, and dilution or lacrimation. To this end, various bioactive-based nanosized carriers including liposomes, ethosomes, niosomes, dendrimer, nanogel, nanofibers, contact lenses, nanoprobes, selenium nanobells, nanosponge, polymeric micelles, silver nanoparticles, and gold nanoparticles among others have been developed to circumvent the limitations associated with the conventional dosage forms. These nanocarriers have been shown to achieve enhanced drug permeation or retention and prolong drug release in the ocular tissue due to their better tissue adherence. The surface charge and the size of nanocarriers (10-1000 nm) are the important key factors to overcome ocular barriers. Various nanocarriers have been shown to deliver active therapeutic molecules including timolol maleate, ampicillin, natamycin, voriconazole, cyclosporine A, dexamethasone, moxifloxacin, and fluconazole among others for the treatment of anterior and posterior eye diseases. Taken together, in a nutshell, this extensive review provides a comprehensive perspective on the numerous facets of ocular drug delivery with a special focus on bioactive nanocarrier-based approaches, including the difficulties and constraints involved in the fabrication of nanocarriers. This also provides the detailed invention, applications, biodistribution and safety-toxicity of nanocarriers-based therapeutcis for the ophthalmic delivery.

Ceria-Based Therapeutic Antioxidants for Biomedical Applications

The growing interest in nanomedicine over the last 20 years has carved out a research field called "nanocatalytic therapy," where catalytic reactions mediated by nanomaterials are employed to intervene in disease-critical biomolecular processes. Among many kinds of catalytic/enzyme-mimetic nanomaterials investigated thus far, ceria nanoparticles stand out from others owing to their unique scavenging properties against biologically noxious free radicals, including reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS), by exerting enzyme mimicry and nonenzymatic activities. Much effort has been made to utilize ceria nanoparticles as self-regenerating antioxidative and anti-inflammatory agents for various kinds of diseases, given the detrimental effects of ROS and RNS therein that need alleviation. In this context, this review is intended to provide an overview as to what makes ceria nanoparticles merit attention in disease therapy. The introductory part describes the characteristics of ceria nanoparticles as an oxygen-deficient metal oxide. The pathophysiological roles of ROS and RNS are then presented, as well as their scavenging mechanisms by ceria nanoparticles. Representative examples of recent ceria-nanoparticle-based therapeutics are summarized by categorization into organ and disease types, followed by the discussion on the remaining challenges and future research directions.

Biomaterial-Based Responsive Nanomedicines for Targeting Solid Tumor Microenvironments

Solid tumors are composed of a highly complex and heterogenic microenvironment, with increasing metabolic status. This environment plays a crucial role in the clinical therapeutic outcome of conventional treatments and innovative antitumor nanomedicines. Scientists have devoted great efforts to conquering the challenges of the tumor microenvironment (TME), in respect of effective drug accumulation and activity at the tumor site. The main focus is to overcome the obstacles of abnormal vasculature, dense stroma, extracellular matrix, hypoxia, and pH gradient acidosis. In this endeavor, nanomedicines that are targeting distinct features of TME have flourished; these aim to increase site specificity and achieve deep tumor penetration. Recently, research efforts have focused on the immune reprograming of TME in order to promote suppression of cancer stem cells and prevention of metastasis. Thereby, several nanomedicine therapeutics which have shown promise in preclinical studies have entered clinical trials or are already in clinical practice. Various novel strategies were employed in preclinical studies and clinical trials. Among them, nanomedicines based on biomaterials show great promise in improving the therapeutic efficacy, reducing side effects, and promoting synergistic activity for TME responsive targeting. In this review, we focused on the targeting mechanisms of nanomedicines in response to the microenvironment of solid tumors. We describe responsive nanomedicines which take advantage of biomaterials' properties to exploit the features of TME or overcome the obstacles posed by TME. The development of such systems has significantly advanced the application of biomaterials in combinational therapies and in immunotherapies for improved anticancer effectiveness.

A Ce-MOF@polydopamine composite nanozyme as an efficient scavenger for reactive oxygen species and iron in thalassemia disease therapy

Patients with β-thalassemia are prone to complications such as cardiovascular diseases and secretory gland injury due to iron overload (IO) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production caused by blood transfusions. Simultaneously scavenging ROS and eliminating IO using nanomedicine remains challenging. Herein, we designed a dual-functional Ce-based metal-organic framework@polydopamine (Ce-MOF@PDA) composite that integrates oxidative stress reduction and IO elimination and evaluated its protective effect on IO injury in thalassemia. Using Ce-MOF with multiple active sites as the core, dopamine, which can coordinate iron ions, was modified on the surface of Ce-MOF and spontaneously polymerized to obtain PDA with iron elimination ability. Dopamine modification also adjusted the Ce3+/Ce4+ ratio to further enhance the catalytic activity for scavenging ROS. Ce-MOF@PDA exhibited multiple nanozyme activities, such as superoxide dismutase- and catalase-like activities, and decreased iron-mediated oxidative stress levels in vitro. Furthermore, the serum ferritin levels and iron concentrations in the liver of IO mice were reduced following treatment with Ce-MOF@PDA, and the fecal clearance ability was comparable to that of deferoxamine. These results indicate that Ce-MOF@PDA can eliminate IO while scavenging ROS and reduce tissue damage caused by oxidative stress. Therefore, the Ce-MOF@PDA nanozyme is a promising therapeutic nanomedicine for treating thalassemia IO.

miRNAs as potential game-changers in retinoblastoma: Future clinical and medicinal uses

Retinoblastoma (RB) is a rare tumor in children, but it is the most common primitive intraocular malignancy in childhood age, especially those below three years old. The RB gene (RB1) undergoes mutations in individuals with RB. Although mortality rates remain high in developing countries, the survival rate for this type of cancer is greater than 95-98% in industrialized countries. However, it is lethal if left untreated, so early diagnosis is essential. As a non-coding RNA, miRNA significantly impacts RB development and treatment resistance because it can control various cellular functions. In this review, we illustrate the recent advances in the role of miRNAs in RB. That includes the clinical importance of miRNAs in RB diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment. Moreover, the regulatory mechanisms of miRNAs in RB and therapeutic interventions are discussed.

Research Progress of Bioinspired Nanostructured Systems for the Treatment of Ocular Disorders

How to enhance the bioavailability and prolong the residence time of drugs in the eye present the major barriers to traditional eye delivery. Nanotechnology has been widely used in ocular drug delivery systems because of its advantages of minimizing adverse reactions, decreasing the frequency of administration, prolonging the release time, and improving the bioavailability of the drug in the eye. As natural product-based nanostructured systems, bioinspired nanostructured systems have presented as less toxic, easy to prepare, and cost-effective and have potential application value in the field of nanotechnology. A systematic classification of bioinspired nanostructured systems based on their inspiration source and formulation and their brief applications in disease are presented here. A review of recent research progress of the bioinspired nanostructured systems for the treatment of the anterior and posterior segment of ocular disorders is then presented in detail. Finally, current challenges and future directions with regard to manufacturing bioinspired nanomaterials are provided.

Self-assembly of DNA nanostructure containing cell-specific aptamer as a precise drug delivery system for cancer therapy in non-small cell lung cancer

Background

As the most common subtype in lung cancer, the precise and efficient treatment for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains an outstanding challenge owing to early metastasis and poor prognosis. Chemotherapy, the most commonly used treatment modality, is a difficult choice for many cancer patients due to insufficient drug accumulation in tumor sites and severe systemic side-effects. In this study, we constructed a cell-specific aptamer-modified DNA nanostructure (Apt-NS) as a targeting drug delivery system achieving the precision therapy for lung cancer.

Methods

The synthesis of DNA nanostructure and its stability were evaluated using gel electrophoresis. The targeting properties and internalization mechanism were investigated via flow cytometry and confocal analyses. Drug loading, release, and targeted drug delivery were determined by fluorescence detection, Zeta potentials assay, and confocal imaging. CCK8 assays, colony formation, cell apoptosis, metastasis analyses and in vivo experiments were conducted to assess the biological functions of DNA nanostructure.

Results

Self-assembled DNA nanoparticles (Apt-NS) had excellent stability to serum and DNase I and the ability to specifically recognize A549 cells. Upon specific binding, the drug-loaded nanoparticles (Apt-NS-DOX) were internalized into target cells by clathrin-mediated endocytosis. Subsequently, DOX could be released from Apt-NS-DOX based on the degradation of the lysosome. Apt-NS-DOX exerted significant suppression of cell proliferation, invasion and migration, and also enhanced cell apoptosis due to the excellent performance of drug delivery and intracellular release, while maintaining a superior biosafety. In addition, the antitumor effects of Apt-NS-DOX were further confirmed using in vivo models.

Conclusions

Our study provided cell-specific aptamer-modified DNA nanostructures as a drug-delivery system targeting A549 cells, which could precisely and efficiently transport chemotherapeutic drug into tumor cells, exerting enhanced antineoplastic efficacy. These findings highlight that DNA nanostructure serving as an ideal drug delivery system in cancer treatment appears great promise in biomedical applications.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12951-022-01701-5.

Highly Aligned Bacterial Nanocellulose Films Obtained During Static Biosynthesis in a Reproducible and Straightforward Approach

Bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) is usually produced as randomly-organized highly pure cellulose nanofibers films. Its high water-holding capacity, porosity, mechanical strength, and biocompatibility make it unique. Ordered structures are found in nature and the properties appearing upon aligning polymers fibers inspire everyone to achieve highly aligned BNC (A-BNC) films. This work takes advantage of natural bacteria biosynthesis in a reproducible and straightforward approach. Bacteria confined and statically incubated biosynthesized BNC nanofibers in a single direction without entanglement. The obtained film is highly oriented within the total volume confirmed by polarization-resolved second-harmonic generation signal and Small Angle X-ray Scattering. The biosynthesis approach is improved by reusing the bacterial substrates to obtain A-BNC reproducibly and repeatedly. The suitability of A-BNC as cell carriers is confirmed by adhering to and growing fibroblasts in the substrate. Finally, the thermal conductivity is evaluated by two independent approaches, i.e., using the well-known 3ω-method and a recently developed contactless thermoreflectance approach, confirming a thermal conductivity of 1.63 W mK-1 in the direction of the aligned fibers versus 0.3 W mK-1 perpendicularly. The fivefold increase in thermal conductivity of BNC in the alignment direction forecasts the potential of BNC-based devices outperforming some other natural polymer and synthetic materials.

Nanotechnology for Pediatric Retinoblastoma Therapy

Retinoblastoma is a rare, sometimes hereditary, pediatric cancer. In high-income countries this disease has a survival rate approaching 100%, while in low- and middle-income countries the prognosis is fatal for about 80% of cases. Depending on the stage of the disease, different therapeutic protocols are applied. In more advanced forms of the disease, surgical removal of the entire globe and its intraocular contents (enucleation) is, unfortunately, necessary, whereas in other cases, conventional chemotherapy is normally used. To overcome the side-effects and reduced efficacy of traditional chemotherapic drugs, nanodelivery systems that ensure a sustained drug release and manage to reach the target site have more recently been developed. This review takes into account the current use and advances of nanomedicine in the treatment of retinoblastoma and discusses nanoparticulate formulations that contain conventional drugs and natural products. In addition, future developments in retinoblastoma treatment are discussed.

Efficacy of Green Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles for Potential Therapeutic Applications: Circumstantial Insight on Mechanistic Aspects

Green synthesized cerium oxide nanoparticles (GS-CeO₂ NPs) have a unique size, shape, and biofunctional properties and are decorated with potential biocompatible agents to perform various therapeutic actions, such as antimicrobial, anticancer, antidiabetic, and antioxidant effects and drug delivery, by acquiring various mechanistic approaches at the molecular level. In this review article, we provide a detailed overview of some of these critical mechanisms, including DNA fragmentation, disruption of the electron transport chain, degradation of chromosomal assemblage, mitochondrial damage, inhibition of ATP synthase activity, inhibition of enzyme catalytic sites, disorganization, disruption, and lipid peroxidation of the cell membrane, and inhibition of various cellular pathways. This review article also provides up-to-date information about the future applications of GS-CeONPs to make breakthroughs in medical sectors for the advancement and precision of medicine and to effectively inform the disease diagnosis and treatment strategies.

Ocular Nanomedicine

Intrinsic shortcomings associated with conventional therapeutic strategies often compromise treatment efficacy in clinical ophthalmology, prompting the rapid development of versatile alternatives for satisfactory diagnostics and therapeutics. Given advances in material science, nanochemistry, and nanobiotechnology, a broad spectrum of functional nanosystems has been explored to satisfy the extensive requirements of ophthalmologic applications. In the present review, the recent progress in nanosystems, both conventional and emerging nanomaterials in ophthalmology from state-of-the-art studies, are comprehensively examined and the role of their fundamental physicochemical properties in bioavailability, tissue penetration, biodistribution, and elimination after interacting with the ophthalmologic microenvironment emphasized. Furthermore, along with the development of surface engineering of nanomaterials, emerging theranostic methodologies are promoted as potential alternatives for multipurpose ocular applications, such as emerging biomimetic ophthalmology (e.g., smart electrochemical eye), thus provoking a holistic review of "ocular nanomedicine." By affording insight into challenges encountered by ocular nanomedicine and further highlighting the direction of future studies, this review provides an incentive for enriching ocular nanomedicine-based fundamental research and future clinical translation.

CXC Chemokine Signaling in Progression of Epithelial Ovarian Cancer: Theranostic Perspectives

Patients with epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) are often diagnosed at an advanced stage due to nonspecific symptoms and ineffective screening approaches. Although chemotherapy has been available and widely used for the treatment of advanced EOC, the overall prognosis remains dismal. As part of the intrinsic defense mechanisms against cancer development and progression, immune cells are recruited into the tumor microenvironment (TME), and this process is directed by the interactions between different chemokines and their receptors. In this review, the functional significance of CXC chemokine ligands/chemokine receptors (CXCL/CXCR) and their roles in modulating EOC progression are summarized. The status and prospects of CXCR/CXCL-based theranostic strategies in EOC management are also discussed.

Targeting Killing of Tumor Cells Based on Isoelectric Point Suitable Nanoceria-rod with High Oxygen Vacancies

Nanozymes have great potential application in tumor treatment because of their good stability, high biocompatibility, easy preparation and versatility. However, it remains a challenge to design of highly active nanozyme...

Redox Active Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles: Current Status and Burning Issues

Research on cerium oxide nanoparticles (nanoceria) has captivated the scientific community due to their unique physical and chemical properties, such as redox activity and oxygen buffering capacity, which made them available for many technical applications, including biomedical applications. The redox mimetic antioxidant properties of nanoceria have been effective in the treatment of many diseases caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species. The mechanism of ROS scavenging activity of nanoceria is still elusive, and its redox activity is controversial due to mixed reports in the literature showing pro-oxidant and antioxidant activity. In light of its current research interest, it is critical to understand the behavior of nanoceria in the biological environment and provide answers to some of the critical and open issues. This review critically analyzes the status of research on the application of nanoceria to treat diseases caused by ROS. It reviews the proposed mechanism of action and shows the effect of surface coatings on its redox activity. It also discusses some of the crucial issues in deciphering the mechanism and redox activity of nanoceria and suggests areas of future research.

Green Light-Triggered Intraocular Drug Release for Intravenous Chemotherapy of Retinoblastoma

Retinoblastoma is one of the most severe ocular diseases, of which current chemotherapy is limited to the repetitive intravitreal injections of chemotherapeutics. Systemic drug administration is a less invasive route; however, it is also less efficient for ocular drug delivery because of the existence of blood-retinal barrier and systemic side effects. Here, a photoresponsive drug release system is reported, which is self-assembled from photocleavable trigonal small molecules, to achieve light-triggered intraocular drug accumulation. After intravenous injection of drug-loaded nanocarriers, green light can trigger the disassembly of the nanocarriers in retinal blood vessels, which leads to intraocular drug release and accumulation to suppress retinoblastoma growth. This proof-of-concept study would advance the development of light-triggered drug release systems for the intravenous treatment of eye diseases.

Size-Dependent Cytotoxicity and Reactive Oxygen Species of Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles in Human Retinal Pigment Epithelia Cells

Purpose

The use of cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO₂ NPs), a lanthanide element oxide and bivalent compound, has been growing continuously in industry and biomedicine. Due to their wide application, the potential human health problems of CeO₂ NPs have attracted attention, but studies on the toxicity of this compound to human eyes are lacking. This study investigated the cytotoxicity and reactive oxygen species (ROS) of CeO₂ NPs in human retinal pigment epithelial cells (ARPE-19 cells).

Methods

Using the transmission electron microscope (TEM), the size distribution and shape of CeO₂ NPs were characterized. To explore the effect of CeO₂ NP size on ophthalmic toxicity in vitro, three sizes (15, 30 and 45 nm) of CeO₂ NPs were investigated using ATP content measurement, LDH release measurement and cell proliferation assay in ARPE-19 cells. ROS values and mitochondrial membrane potential depolarization were evaluated by H₂DCF-DA staining and JC-1 staining. Morphology changes were detected using a phase-contrast microscope.

Results

The cytotoxicity of 15 nm CeO₂ NPs was found to be the highest and hence was further explored. Treatment with 15 nm CeO₂ NPs caused the morphology of ARPE-19 cells to change in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Moreover, the treatment induced excessive ROS generation and mitochondrial membrane potential depolarization. In addition, cytotoxicity was attenuated by the application of a ROS scavenger N-acetyl-L- cysteine (NAC).

Conclusion

CeO₂ NPs induced cytotoxicity in ARPE-19 cells and excessive production of ROS and decreasing mitochondrial membrane potential. The Overproduction of ROS partially contributes to CeO₂ NP-induced cytotoxicity.

Cu-doped cerium oxide-based nanomedicine for tumor microenvironment-stimulative chemo-chemodynamic therapy with minimal side effects

CeO₂ nanoenzyme possesses multiple enzyme-mimicking activities and excellent biocompatibility. However, its weak peroxidase (POD)-mimicking property in the tumor microenvironment (TME) hinders its further tumor therapy application. To enhance CeO₂ nanoenzyme's POD activity and overcome limitations of single therapeutic modality, a novel antitumor controlled drug release system (CCCs NPs) was designed using Cu doped cerium oxide nanoparticles (Cu-CeO₂ NPs) loaded with clinical anti-cancer drug doxorubicin (DOX) as the core and the breast cancer cell membrane as the outer shell. Cu doping endowed CeO₂ NPs' with significantly enhanced POD-mimicking activity in the TME due to a remarkably higher Ce³⁺/Ce⁴⁺ ratio. The cancer cell membrane coating enabled our nanomedicine with homotypic targeting property. Combined with chemotherapeutic drug DOX, a selective and nearly complete tumor suppression was demonstrated in vitro and in vivo. Remarkably, under physiological condition, CCCs NPs worked as a radical scavenger to protect normal cells from oxidative stress caused by anti-cancer drug DOX and OH generated via Fenton-like reaction. Collectively, our CCCs NPs offered a therapeutic potential for effective breast cancer therapy while being free of side effects.

A nano-predator of pathological MDMX construct by clearable supramolecular gold(I)-thiol-peptide complexes achieves safe and potent anti-tumor activity

As alternatives to small-molecular proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTAC), peptide-based molecular glues (MG) are a broad range of dual-functional ligands that simultaneously bind with targetable proteins and E3 ligases by mimicking proteinprotein interaction (PPI) partners. Methods: Herein, we design a peptide-derived MG to target a tumor-driving protein, MDMX, for degradation, and nanoengineered it into a supramolecular gold(I)-thiol-peptide complex (Nano-MP) to implement the proteolysis recalcitrance, cellular internalization, and glutathione-triggered release. To optimize the tumor targeting, a pH-responsive macromolecule termed polyacryl sulfydryl imidazole (PSI) was synthesized to coat Nano-MP. Results: As expected, Nano-MP@PSI induced the MDMX degradation by ubiquitination and subsequently restored the anti-cancer function of p53 and p73. Nano-MP@PSI revealed potent anti-cancer activities in an orthotopic xenograft mouse model of retinoblastoma by intraocular injection and a patient-derived xenograft model of malignant pancreatic cancer by systemic injection, while maintaining a favorable safety profile and showing a highly favorable clearable profile of excretion from the living body. Conclusion: Collectively, this work not only provided a clinically viable paradigm for the treatment of a wide variety of tumors by multiple administration types, but, more importantly, it bridged the chasm between peptides and PROTACs, and likely reinvigorated the development of peptide-derived proteolysis-targeting chimeras for a great variety of diseases.

Multi-Functionalized Nanomaterials and Nanoparticles for Diagnosis and Treatment of Retinoblastoma

Retinoblastoma is a rare type of cancer, and its treatment, as well as diagnosis, is challenging, owing to mutations in the tumor-suppressor genes and lack of targeted, efficient, cost-effective therapy, exhibiting a significant need for novel approaches to address these concerns. For this purpose, nanotechnology has revolutionized the field of medicine with versatile potential capabilities for both the diagnosis, as well as the treatment, of retinoblastoma via the targeted and controlled delivery of anticancer drugs via binding to the overexpressed retinoblastoma gene. Nanotechnology has also generated massive advancements in the treatment of retinoblastoma based on the use of surface-tailored multi-functionalized nanocarriers; overexpressed receptor-based nanocarriers ligands (folate, galactose, and hyaluronic acid); lipid-based nanocarriers; and metallic nanocarriers. These nanocarriers seem to benchmark in mitigating a plethora of malignant retinoblastoma via targeted delivery at a specified site, resulting in programmed apoptosis in cancer cells. The effectiveness of these nanoplatforms in diagnosing and treating intraocular cancers such as retinoblastoma has not been properly discussed, despite the increasing significance of nanomedicine in cancer management. This article reviewed the recent milestones and future development areas in the field of intraocular drug delivery and diagnostic platforms focused on nanotechnology.

In Situ Synthesis of FeOCl in Hollow Dendritic Mesoporous Organosilicon for Ascorbic Acid-Enhanced and MR Imaging-Guided Chemodynamic Therapy in Neutral pH Conditions

Chemodynamic therapy (CDT) based on the Fenton reaction is a promising strategy for nonlight cancer treatment. However, the traditional Fenton reaction is only efficient in strongly acidic conditions (pH = 2-4), resulting in the limited curative effect in a weakly acidic tumor microenvironment (TME). Herein, we first developed a simple in situ growth method to confine FeOCl nanosheets into hollow dendritic mesoporous organosilicon (H-DMOS) nanoparticles to obtain FeOCl@H-DMOS nanospheres. Ascorbic acid (AA) was then absorbed on the nanosystem as a H₂O₂ prodrug and, meanwhile, was used for the regeneration of Fentons reagent for Fe²⁺. Finally, poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) was coated on FeOCl@H-DMOS-AA to enhance the permeability and retention (EPR) effect in tumor tissue. The as-fabricated FeOCl@H-DMOS-AA/PEG can generate a large amount of highly toxic hydroxyl radicals (^•OH) by catalyzing H₂O₂ even in neutral pH conditions with the help of AA. As a result, the effect of CDT has been markedly enhanced by the increased amount of H₂O₂ and the efficient Fenton reaction in mild acidic TME, which can remove almost all of the tumors in mice. In addition, FeOCl also endows the nanosystem with T₂-weighted MR imaging capability (r₂ = 34.08 mM^-1 s^-1), thus realizing the imaging-guided cancer therapy. All in all, our study may contribute a new direction and may have a bright future for enhanced CDT with a neutral pH range.

GD2-specific CAR T cells encapsulated in an injectable hydrogel control retinoblastoma and preserve vision

Retinoblastoma (RB) is a pediatric retinal tumor that overexpresses the ganglioside GD2. Although it is treatable in patients with early diagnosis, patients may lose one or two eyes. We generated GD2-specific chimeric antigen receptor T lymphocytes (GD2.CAR-Ts) and locally delivered them to mice with an in-situ grafting RB. When used in combination with the local release of interleukin (IL)-15 and an injectable hydrogel, we showed that GD2.CAR-Ts successfully eliminate RB tumor cells without impairment of the mouse vision.

An overview on recent in vivo biological application of cerium oxide nanoparticles

Cerium oxide nanoparticles (CNPs) possess a great potential as therapeutic agents due to their ability to self-regenerate by reversibly switching between two valences +3 and +4. This article reviews recent articles dealing with in vivo studies of CNPs towards Alzheimer's disease, obesity, liver inflammation, cancer, sepsis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, acute kidney injury, radiation-induced tissue damage, hepatic ischemia reperfusion injury, retinal diseases and constipation. In vivo anti-cancer studies revealed the effectiveness of CNPs to reduce tumor growth and angiogenesis in melanoma, ovarian, breast and retinoblastoma cancer cell-induced mice, with their conjugation with folic acid, doxorubicin, CPM, or CXC receptor-4 antagonist ligand eliciting higher efficiency. After conjugation with triphenylphosphonium or magnetite nanoparticles, CNPs were shown to combat Alzheimer's disease by reducing amyloid-β, glial fibrillary acidic protein, inflammatory and oxidative stress markers in mice. By improving muscle function and longevity, the citrate/EDTA-stabilized CNPs could ameliorate amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Also, they could effectively reduce obesity in mice by scavenging ROS and reducing adipogenesis, triglyceride synthesis, GAPDH enzyme activity, leptin and insulin levels. In CCl4-induced rats, stress signaling pathways due to inflammatory cytokines, liver enzymes, oxidative and endoplasmic reticulum messengers could be attenuated by CNPs. Commercial CNPs showed protective effects on rats with hepatic ischemia reperfusion and peritonitis-induced hepatic/cardiac injuries by decreasing oxidative stress and hepatic/cardiac inflammation. The same CNPs could improve kidney function by diminishing renal superoxide, hyperglycemia and tubular damage in peritonitis-induced acute kidney injury in rats. Radiation-induced lung and testicular tissue damage could be alleviated in mice, with the former showing improvement in pulmonary distress and bronchoconstriction and the latter exhibiting restoration in spermatogenesis rate and spermatid/spermatocyte number. Through enhancement of gastrointestinal motility, the CNPs could alleviate constipation in both young and old rats. They could also protect rat from light-induced retinal damage by slowing down neurodegenerative process and microglial activation.

Carbon Nanoparticles-Fe(II) Complex for Efficient Tumor Inhibition with Low Toxicity by Amplifying Oxidative Stress

The Fe element is essential for human beings, but overdose of Fe leads to unwanted toxicity. However, overwhelming Fe accumulation in tumor cells could arouse strong oxidative stress for cancer therapy. Therefore, the fast and specific accumulation of Fe in tumor cells without systemic toxicity is critical for this purpose. Herein, we report that a carbon nanoparticles-Fe(II) complex (CNSI-Fe) could efficiently load Fe into tumor cells and inhibit tumor growth with low toxicity in H22 tumor-bearing mice. Upon intratumoral injection, CNSI-Fe only induced meaningful Fe increase in the tumor to significantly inhibit tumor growth with competitive efficiency to cis-dichlorodiammineplatinum(II). Fe accumulation stimulated the hydroxyl radical generation and serious oxidative stress in the tumor. Due to the lack of Fe accumulation in other tissues, CNSI-Fe was of low systemic toxicity to tumor-bearing mice. With the clinical success of CNSI for decades, CNSI-Fe might be used for cancer therapy through "off label" use to benefit patients immediately.

pH-sensitive CuS@Cu2S@Au nanoparticles as a drug delivery system for the chemotherapy against colon cancer

pH-sensitive CuS@Cu2S@Au nanoparticles (NPs) are successfully prepared by sacrificing template method. The NPs are of hollow structure, which is certified by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The CuS@Cu2S@Au NPs can be used as carriers for doxorubicin (DOX). The DOX loaded NPs exhibit pH-sensitive release of the drug, which are prospective as controllable drug delivery system. Besides, relative to the high toxicity and lethality of the free DOX, the time-dependent release of drug from the NPs is more suitable for the long-time and lasting treatment for colon cancer. The CuS@Cu2S@Au NPs with good biocompatibility are promising biomaterials in the application of biomedical and tissue engineering fields.

Bio-Orthogonal Bacterial Reactor for Remission of Heavy Metal Poisoning and ROS Elimination

Multitudinous industrial products in daily life put human health at risk of heavy metal exposure, and natural bacteria have displayed superior performance in bioadsorption and biodegradation of heavy metal. In this study, a bacteria-based bioreactor is developed to precisely bioadsorb lead (Pb) ions, eliminate concomitant reactive oxygen species (ROS), and remit the injury of acute/chronic Pb poisoning. A nonpathogenic bacteria Escherichia coli MG1655 (Bac) is decorated with antioxidative cerium oxide nanoparticles (Ceria) on the surface through a bio-orthogonal reaction, and the complex bioreactor could spontaneously aggregate in organs with high concentration of Pb. Furthermore, the excess Pb is bioadsorbed by bacteria and the concomitant ROS is eliminated by Ceria nanoparticles. In vitro and in vivo studies demonstrate that this integral biotic/abiotic hybrid bioreactor successfully realizes detoxication of Pb and reparation of injury, also accompanied with inappreciable side effects.

Highly Effective Drug Delivery and Cell Imaging Using Fluorescent Double-Imprinted Nanoparticles by Targeting Recognition of the Epitope of Membrane Protein

Nanocarriers with both targeting ability and stable loading of drugs can more effectively deliver drugs to precise tumor sites for therapeutic effects. Accordingly, we have rationally designed fluorescent molecularly imprinted polymer nanoparticles (FMIPs), which use N-terminal epitope of P32 membrane protein as the primary template and doxorubicin (DOX) as the secondary template. The DOX imprinted cavity can stably carry the drug and the epitope-imprinted cavity allows FMIPs to actively recognize the P32-positive 4T1 cancer cells. The targeted therapeutic effect of DOX-loaded FMIPs (FMIPs@DOX) is investigated in vitro and in vivo. The FMIPs@DOX only causes apoptosis in 4T1 cancer cells compared to C8161 cells (expressing low level of P32). In addition, highly effective inhibition of 4T1 malignant breast tumors using FMIPs@DOX is achieved in the model of tumor-bearing mice. Importantly, the antitumor effect achieved by intravenous injection of FMIPs@DOX is almost identical to that by intratumoral injection. Furthermore, the FMIPs can serve as a targeted fluorescence imaging agent due to the high specificity of the epitope-imprinted cavity and the stable fluorescence of the embedded silicon nanoparticles. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of the FMIPs for active targeted drug delivery and imaging. Furthermore, the FMIPs provide a direction for drug-loaded nanocarrier.