Magnetic nanomaterials for hyperthermia-based therapy and controlled drug delivery

Bacterial clustering biomaterials as anti-infective therapies

In Nature, bacterial clustering by host-released peptides or nucleic acids is an evolutionarily conserved immune defense strategy employed to prevent adhesion of pathogenic microbes, which is prerequisite for most infections. Synthetic anti-adhesion strategies present as non-lethal means of targeting bacteria and may potentially be used to avoid resistance against antimicrobial therapies. From bacteria-agglutinating biomolecules discovered in nature to synthetic designs involving peptides, cationic polymers and nanoparticles, the modes of actions appear broad and unconsolidated. Herein, we present a critical review and update of the state-of-the-art in synthetic bacteria-clustering designs with proposition of a more streamlined nomenclature and classification. Overall, this review aims to consolidate the conceptual framework in the field of bacterial clustering and highlight its potentials as an avenue for discovering novel antibacterial biomaterials.

Combination of magnetic hyperthermia and gene therapy for breast cancer

This study presented a novel breast cancer therapy model that uses magnetic field-controlled heating to trigger gene expression in cancer cells. We created silica- and amine-modified superparamagnetic nanoparticles (MSNP-NH2) to carry genes and release heat under an alternating current (AC) magnetic field. The heat-inducible expression plasmid (pHSP-Azu) was designed to encode anti-cancer azurin and was delivered by magnetofection. MCF-7 cells demonstrated over 93% cell viability and 12% transfection efficiency when exposed to 75 µg/ml of MSNP-NH2, 3 µg of DNA, and PEI at a 0.75 PEI/DNA ratio (w: w), unlike non-tumorigenic cells (MCF-10 A). Magnetic hyperthermia (MHT) increased azurin expression by heat induction, leading to cell death in dual ways. The combination of MHT and heat-regulated azurin expression induced cell death, specifically in cancer cells, while having negligible effects on MCF-10 A cells. The proposed strategy clearly shows that simultaneous use of MHT and MHT-induced azurin gene expression may selectively target and kill cancer cells, offering a promising direction for cancer therapy.

Core-Shell Magnetic Particles: Tailored Synthesis and Applications

Core-shell magnetic particles consisting of magnetic core and functional shells have aroused widespread attention in multidisciplinary fields spanning chemistry, materials science, physics, biomedicine, and bioengineering due to their distinctive magnetic properties, tunable interface features, and elaborately designed compositions. In recent decades, various surface engineering strategies have been developed to endow them desired properties (e.g., surface hydrophilicity, roughness, acidity, target recognition) for efficient applications in catalysis, optical modulation, environmental remediation, biomedicine, etc. Moreover, precise control over the shell structure features like thickness, porosity, crystallinity and compositions including metal oxides, carbon, silica, polymers, and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) has been developed as the major method to exploit new functional materials. In this review, we highlight the synthesis methods, regulating strategies, interface engineering, and applications of core-shell magnetic particles over the past half-century. The fundamental methodologies for controllable synthesis of core-shell magnetic materials with diverse organic, inorganic, or hybrid compositions, surface morphology, and interface property are thoroughly elucidated and summarized. In addition, the influences of the synthesis conditions on the physicochemical properties (e.g., dispersibility, stability, stimulus-responsiveness, and surface functionality) are also discussed to provide constructive insight and guidelines for designing core-shell magnetic particles in specific applications. The brand-new concept of "core-shell assembly chemistry" holds great application potential in bioimaging, diagnosis, micro/nanorobots, and smart catalysis. Finally, the remaining challenges, future research directions and new applications for the core-shell magnetic particles are predicted and proposed.

Harnessing nanotechnology for cancer treatment

Nanotechnology has become a groundbreaking innovation force in cancer therapy, offering innovative solutions to the limitations of conventional treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation. By manipulating materials at the nanoscale, researchers have developed nanocarriers capable of targeted drug delivery, improving therapeutic efficacy while reducing systemic toxicity. Nanoparticles like liposomes, dendrimers, and polymeric nanomaterials have shown significant promise in delivering chemotherapeutic agents directly to tumor sites, enhancing drug bioavailability and minimizing damage to healthy tissues. In addition to drug delivery, with the utilization of tools such as quantum dots and nanosensors that enables more precise identification of cancer biomarkers, nanotechnology is also playing a pivotal role in early cancer detection and diagnosis. Furthermore, nanotechnology-based therapeutic strategies, including photothermal therapy, gene therapy and immunotherapy are offering novel ways to combat cancer by selectively targeting tumor cells and enhancing the immune response. Nevertheless, despite these progressions, obstacles still persist, particularly in the clinical translation of these technologies. Issues such as nanoparticle toxicity, biocompatibility, and the complexity of regulatory approval hinder the widespread adoption of nanomedicine in oncology. This review discusses different applications of nanotechnology in cancer therapy, highlighting its potential and the hurdles to its clinical implementation. Future research needs to concentrate on addressing these obstacles to unlock the full potential of nanotechnology in providing personalized, effective, and minimally invasive cancer treatments.

Nanotherapy for Neural Retinal Regeneration

Retinal diseases can severely impair vision and even lead to blindness, posing significant threats to both physical and mental health. Physical retinal regenerative therapies are poised to revolutionize the treatment of various disorders associated with blindness. However, these therapies must overcome the challenges posed by the protective inner and outer blood‒retinal barriers. Nanotechnology applications in ophthalmology have shown great potential in addressing the issue of drug delivery to the eye. Moreover, nanotechnology-based therapeutics can have profound clinical impacts on retinopathy, particularly retinal regeneration, thereby improving patient outcomes. Continuous advancements in nanotechnology are being applied to regenerate lost or damaged eye tissues and to treat vision loss and blindness caused by various retinal degenerative diseases. These approaches can be categorized into three main strategies: i) nanoparticles for delivering drugs, genes, and other essential substances; ii) nanoscaffolds for providing biocompatible support; and iii) nanocomposites for enhancing the functionality of primary or stem cells. The aim of this comprehensive review is to present the current understanding of nanotechnology-based therapeutics for retinal regeneration, with a focus on the perspective functions of nanomaterials.

Induction Heating for the Electrification of Catalytic Processes

The increasing availability of electrical energy generated from clean, low-carbon, renewable sources like solar and wind power is paving the way for a more sustainable future. This has resulted in a growing trend in the chemical industry to increase the share of electricity use in chemical processes, particularly catalytic ones. This shift towards electrifying catalytic processes offers significant environmental benefits. Current practices rely heavily on fossil fuel-based burners, primarily using natural gas, which contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, replacing fossil fuels with electricity can significantly reduce the carbon footprint associated with chemical production. Additionally, the energy-intensive production of metal catalysts used in these processes further exacerbates the environmental impact. This review focuses on the electrification of chemical processes, particularly using induction heating (IH), as a method to reduce the environmental impact of both catalyst production and operation. IH shows promise compared to conventional heating methods, since it offers a cleaner, more efficient, and precise way to heat catalysts in chemical processes by directly generating heat within the catalyst itself. It can potentially even enhance the reaction performance through its influence on the reaction mechanism. By exploring recent advancements in IH-driven catalytic processes, the review delves into how this method is revolutionizing catalysis by enhancing performance, selectivity, and sustainability. It highlights recent breakthroughs and discusses perspectives for further exploration in this rapidly developing field.

Nanotherapeutic and Nano-Bio Interface for Regeneration and Healing

Wound and injury healing processes are intricate and multifaceted, involving a sequence of events from coagulation to scar tissue formation. Effective wound management is crucial for achieving favorable clinical outcomes. Understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying wound healing, inflammation, and regeneration is essential for developing innovative therapeutics. This review explored the interplay of cellular and molecular processes contributing to wound healing, focusing on inflammation, innervation, angiogenesis, and the role of cell surface adhesion molecules. Additionally, it delved into the significance of calcium signaling in skeletal muscle regeneration and its implications for regenerative medicine. Furthermore, the therapeutic targeting of cellular senescence for long-term wound healing was discussed. The integration of cutting-edge technologies, such as quantitative imaging and computational modeling, has revolutionized the current approach of wound healing dynamics. The review also highlighted the role of nanotechnology in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, particularly in the development of nanomaterials and nano-bio tools for promoting wound regeneration. Moreover, emerging nano-bio interfaces facilitate the efficient transport of biomolecules crucial for regeneration. Overall, this review provided insights into the cellular and molecular mechanisms of wound healing and regeneration, emphasizing the significance of interdisciplinary approaches and innovative technologies in advancing regenerative therapies. Through harnessing the potential of nanoparticles, bio-mimetic matrices, and scaffolds, regenerative medicine offers promising avenues for restoring damaged tissues with unparalleled precision and efficacy. This pursuit marks a significant departure from traditional approaches, offering promising avenues for addressing longstanding challenges in cellular and tissue repair, thereby significantly contributing to the advancement of regenerative medicine.

Tadpole-like cationic single-chain nanoparticles display high cellular uptake

The successful delivery of nanoparticles (NPs) to cancer cells is dependent on various factors, including particle size, shape, surface properties such as hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity, charges, and functional moieties. Tailoring these properties has been explored extensively to enhance the efficacy of NPs for drug delivery. Single-chain polymer nanoparticles (SCNPs), notable for their small size (sub-20 nm) and tunable properties, are emerging as a promising platform for drug delivery. However, the impact of surface charge on the biological performance of SCNPs in cancer cells remains underexplored. In this study, we prepared a library of SCNPs with varying charge types (neutral, anionic, cationic, and zwitterionic), charge densities, charge positions, and crosslinking densities to evaluate their effects on cellular uptake in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Key findings include that cationic SCNPs are more likely to translocate into cells than neutral, anionic, or zwitterionic counterparts. Furthermore, cellular uptake was enhanced with increased charge density (from 10 to 15 mol%) before reaching a critical point (20 mol%) where excessive positive charge led to NP adhesion to the cell membrane, resulting in cell death. We also found that the position of the charge on the polymer chain also impacted the delivery of NPs to cancer cells, with tadpole-shaped SCNPs achieving the highest uptake. Furthermore, crosslinking density significantly influenced cellular uptake, with SCNPs at 50% crosslinking conversion showing the highest cytosolic localization, while other densities resulted in retention primarily at the cell membrane. This study offers valuable insights into how charge type, density, position, and crosslinking density affect the biological performance of SCNPs, guiding the rational design of more effective and safer drug delivery systems.

Cancer treatment approaches within the frame of hyperthermia, drug delivery systems, and biosensors: concepts and future potentials

This work presents a review of the therapeutic modalities and approaches for cancer treatment. A brief overview of the traditional treatment routes is presented in the introduction together with their reported side effects. A combination of the traditional approaches was reported to demonstrate an effective therapy until a few decades ago. With the improvement in the fabrication of nanomaterials, targeted therapy represents a novel therapeutic approach. This improvement established on nanoparticles is categorized into hyperthermia, drug delivery systems, and biosensors. Hyperthermia presents a personalized medicine-based approach in which targeted zones are heated up until the diseased tissue is destroyed by the thermal effect. The use of magnetic nanoparticles further improved the effectiveness of hyperthermia owing to the enhanced heating action, further increasing the accuracy of the targeting process. Nanoparticle-based biosensors present a smart nanodevice that can detect, monitor, and target tumor tissues by following the biomarkers in the body fluids. Magnetic nanoparticles offer a controlled thermo-responsive device that can be manipulated by changing the magnetic field, offering a more personalized and controlled hyperthermia therapeutic modality. Similarly, gold nanoparticles offer an effective aid in the hyperthermia treatment approach. Furthermore, carbon nanotubes and metal-organic frameworks present a cutting-edge approach to cancer treatment. A combination of functionalized nanoparticles offers a unique route for drug delivery systems, in which therapeutic agents carried by nanoparticles are guided into the human body and then released in the target spot.

Recent advances in targeted drug delivery systems for multiple myeloma

Despite significant therapeutic advances, multiple myeloma (MM) remains a challenging, incurable, hematological malignancy. The efficacy of traditional chemotherapy and currently available anti-MM agents is in part limited by their adverse effects, which restrict their therapeutic potential. Nanotherapeutics is an emerging field of cancer therapy that can overcome the biological and chemical barriers of existing anticancer drugs. This review presents an overview of recent advancements in nanoparticle- and immunotherapy-based drug delivery systems for MM treatment. It further delves into the targeting strategies, mechanism of controlled drug release, and challenges associated with the development of drug delivery systems for the treatment of MM.

Engineering core-shell mesoporous silica and Fe3O4@Au nanosystems for targeted cancer therapeutics: a review

The extensive utilization of nanoparticles in cancer therapies has inspired a new field of study called cancer nanomedicine. In contrast to traditional anticancer medications, nanomedicines offer a targeted strategy that eliminates side effects and has high efficacy. With its vast surface area, variable pore size, high pore volume, abundant surface chemistry and specific binding affinity, mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MPSNPs) are a potential candidate for cancer diagnosis and treatment. However, there are several bottlenecks associated with nanoparticles, including specific toxicity or affinity towards particular body fluid, which can cater by architecting core-shell nanosystems. The core-shell chemistries, synergistic effects, and interfacial heterojunctions in core-shell nanosystems enhance their stability, catalytic and physicochemical attributes, which possess high performance in cancer therapeutics. This review article summarizes research and development dedicated to engineering mesoporous core-shell nanosystems, especially silica nanoparticles and Fe3O4@Au nanoparticles, owing to their unique physicochemical characteristics. Moreover, it highlights state-of-the-art magnetic and optical attributes of Fe3O4@Au and MPSNP-based cancer therapy strategies. It details the designing of Fe3O4@Au and MPSN to bind with drugs, receptors, ligands, and destroy tumour cells and targeted drug delivery. This review serves as a fundamental comprehensive structure to guide future research towards prospects of core-shell nanosystems based on Fe3O4@Au and MPSNP for cancer theranostics.

Enhancing Drug Solubility, Bioavailability, and Targeted Therapeutic Applications through Magnetic Nanoparticles

Biological variability poses significant challenges in the development of effective therapeutics, particularly when it comes to drug solubility and bioavailability. Poor solubility across varying physiological conditions often leads to reduced absorption and inconsistent therapeutic outcomes. This review examines how nanotechnology, especially through the use of nanomaterials and magnetic nanoparticles, offers innovative solutions to enhance drug solubility and bioavailability. This comprehensive review focuses on recent advancements and approaches in nanotechnology. We highlight both the successes and remaining challenges in this field, emphasizing the role of continued innovation. Future research should prioritize developing universal therapeutic solutions, conducting interdisciplinary research, and leveraging personalized nanomedicine to address biological variability.

Cellular and Molecular Effects of Magnetic Fields

Recently, magnetic fields (MFs) have received major attention due to their potential therapeutic applications and biological effects. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the cellular and molecular impacts of MFs, with a focus on both in vitro and in vivo studies. We investigate the mechanisms by which MFs influence cell behavior, including modifications in gene expression, protein synthesis, and cellular signaling pathways. The interaction of MFs with cellular components such as ion channels, membranes, and the cytoskeleton is analyzed, along with their effects on cellular processes like proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. Molecular insights are offered into how MFs modulate oxidative stress and inflammatory responses, which are pivotal in various pathological conditions. Furthermore, we explore the therapeutic potential of MFs in regenerative medicine, cancer treatment, and neurodegenerative diseases. By synthesizing current findings, this article aims to elucidate the complex bioeffects of MFs, thereby facilitating their optimized application in medical and biotechnological fields.

Enzyme-Triggered Degradation of Supramolecularly Cross-Linked Polymersomes of Azobenzene-Based Polyurethane: Cell-Selective Anticancer Drug Release

Enzyme-responsive self-assembled nanostructures for drug delivery applications have gained a lot of attention, as enzymes exhibit dysregulation in many disease-associated microenvironments. Azoreductase enzyme levels are strongly elevated in many tumor tissues; hence, here, we exploited the altered enzyme activity of the azoreductase enzyme and designed a main-chain azobenzene-based amphiphilic polyurethane, which self-assembles into a vesicular nanostructure and is programmed to disassemble in response to a specific enzyme, azoreductase, with the help of the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) coenzyme in the hypoxic environment of solid tumors. The vesicular nanostructure sequesters, stabilizes the hydrophobic anticancer drug, and releases the drug in a controlled fashion in response to enzyme-triggered degradation of azo-bonds and disruption of vesicular assembly. The biological evaluation revealed tumor extracellular matrix pH-induced surface charge modulation, selective activated cellular uptake to azoreductase overexpressed lung cancer cells (A549), and the release of the anticancer drug followed by cell death. In contrast, the benign nature of the drug-loaded vesicular nanostructure toward normal cells (H9c2) suggested excellent cell specificity. We envision that the main-chain azobenzene-based polyurethane discussed in this manuscript could be considered as a possible selective chemotherapeutic cargo against the azoreductase overexpressed cancer cells while shielding the normal cells from off-target toxicity.

Estimation of the injection criteria for magnetic hyperthermia therapy based on tumor morphology

Intratumoral multi-injection strategy enhances the efficacy of magnetic nanoparticle hyperthermia therapy (MNPH). In this study, criteria for the selection of injections and their location depending on the tumor shape/geometry are developed. The developed strategy is based on the thermal dosimetry results of different invasive 3D tumor models during MNPH simulation. MNPH simulations are conducted on physical tumor tissue models encased within healthy tissue. The tumor shapes are geometrically divided into a central tumor region containing maximum tumor volume and a peripheral tumor portion protruding in any random direction. The concepts of core and invasive radius are used to geometrically divide the tumor volume. Primary & secondary injections are used to inject MNP fluid into these respective tumor regions based on the invasiveness of the tumor. The optimization strategy is devised based on the zone of influence of primary & secondary injection. Results indicate that the zone of influence of secondary injection lies between 0.7 and 0.8 times the radial distance between the center of the tumor core and branch node point (extreme far endpoint on the invasive tumor surface). Additionally, the multi-injection strategy is more effective when the protrusion volume exceeds10%of the total volume. The proposed algorithm is used to devise multi-injection strategies for arbitrarily shaped tumors and will assist in pre-planning magnetic nanoparticle hyperthermia therapy.

Magnetic hyperthermia in cancer therapy, mechanisms, and recent advances: A review

Hyperthermia therapy refers to the elevating of a region in the body for therapeutic purposes. Different techniques have been applied for hyperthermia therapy including laser, microwave, radiofrequency, ultrasonic, and magnetic nanoparticles and the latter have received great attention in recent years. Magnetic hyperthermia in cancer therapy aims to increase the temperature of the body tissue by locally delivering heat from the magnetic nanoparticles to cancer cells with the aid of an external alternating magnetic field to kill the cancerous cells or prevent their further growth. This review introduces magnetic hyperthermia with magnetic nanoparticles. It includes the mechanism of the operation and magnetism behind the magnetic hyperthermia phenomenon. Different synthesis methods and surface modification to enhance the biocompatibility, water solubility, and stability of the nanoparticles in physiological environments have been discussed. Recent research on versatile types of magnetic nanoparticles with their ability to increase the local temperature has been addressed.

Nanomedicine-based disulfiram and metal ion co-delivery strategies for cancer treatment

Disulfiram (DSF) is a second-line drug for the clinical treatment of alcoholism and has long been proven to be safe for use in clinical practice. In recent years, researchers have discovered the cancer-killing activity of DSF, which is highly dependent on the presence of metal ions, particularly copper ions. Additionally, free DSF is highly unstable and easily degraded within few minutes in blood circulation. Therefore, an ideal DSF formulation should facilitate the co-delivery of metal ions and safeguard the DSF throughout its biological journey before reaching the targeted site. Extensive research have proved that nanotechnology based formulations can effectively realize this goal by strategic encapsulation therapeutic agents within nanoparticle. To be more specific, this is accomplished through precise delivery, coordinated release of metal ions at the tumor site, thereby amplifying its cytotoxic potential. Beyond traditional co-loading techniques, innovative approaches such as DSF-metal complex and metal nanomaterials, have also demonstrated promising results at the animal model stage. This review aims to elucidate the anticancer mechanism associated with DSF and its reliance on metal ions, as well as to provide a comprehensive overview of recent advances in the arena of nanomedicine based co-delivery strategies for DSF and metal ion in the context of cancer therapy.

Smart responsive in situ hydrogel systems applied in bone tissue engineering

The repair of irregular bone tissue suffers severe clinical problems due to the scarcity of an appropriate therapeutic carrier that can match dynamic and complex bone damage. Fortunately, stimuli-responsive in situ hydrogel systems that are triggered by a special microenvironment could be an ideal method of regenerating bone tissue because of the injectability, in situ gelatin, and spatiotemporally tunable drug release. Herein, we introduce the two main stimulus-response approaches, exogenous and endogenous, to forming in situ hydrogels in bone tissue engineering. First, we summarize specific and distinct responses to an extensive range of external stimuli (e.g., ultraviolet, near-infrared, ultrasound, etc.) to form in situ hydrogels created from biocompatible materials modified by various functional groups or hybrid functional nanoparticles. Furthermore, "smart" hydrogels, which respond to endogenous physiological or environmental stimuli (e.g., temperature, pH, enzyme, etc.), can achieve in situ gelation by one injection in vivo without additional intervention. Moreover, the mild chemistry response-mediated in situ hydrogel systems also offer fascinating prospects in bone tissue engineering, such as a Diels-Alder, Michael addition, thiol-Michael addition, and Schiff reactions, etc. The recent developments and challenges of various smart in situ hydrogels and their application to drug administration and bone tissue engineering are discussed in this review. It is anticipated that advanced strategies and innovative ideas of in situ hydrogels will be exploited in the clinical field and increase the quality of life for patients with bone damage.

Recent advances in hepatocellular carcinoma-targeted nanoparticles

In the field of medicine, we often brave the unknown like interstellar explorers, especially when confronting the formidable opponent of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The global burden of HCC remains significant, with suboptimal treatment outcomes necessitating the urgent development of novel drugs and treatments. While various treatments for liver cancer, such as immunotherapy and targeted therapy, have emerged in recent years, improving their transport and therapeutic efficiency, controlling their targeting and release, and mitigating their adverse effects remains challenging. However, just as we grope through the darkness, a glimmer of light emerges-nanotechnology. Recently, nanotechnology has attracted attention because it can increase the local drug concentration in tumors, reduce systemic toxicity, and has the potential to enhance the effectiveness of precision therapy for HCC. However, there are also some challenges hindering the clinical translation of drug-loaded nanoparticles (NPs). Just as interstellar explorers must overcome interstellar dust, we too must overcome various obstacles. In future researches, the design and development of nanodelivery systems for novel drugs treating HCC should be the first attention. Moreover, researchers should focus on the active targeting design of various NPs. The combination of the interventional therapies and drug-loaded NPs will greatly advance the process of precision HCC therapy.

NIR-Responsive Methotrexate-Modified Iron Selenide Nanorods for Synergistic Magnetic Hyperthermic, Photothermal, and Chemodynamic Therapy

Breast cancer is a malignant tumor with a high mortality rate among women. Therefore, it is necessary to develop novel therapies to effectively treat this disease. In this study, iron selenide nanorods (FeSe2 NRs) were designed for use in magnetic hyperthermic, photothermal, and chemodynamic therapy (MHT/PTT/CDT) for breast cancer. To illustrate their efficacy, FeSe2 NRs were modified with the chemotherapeutic agent methotrexate (MTX). MTX-modified FeSe2 (FeSe2-MTX) exhibited excellent controlled drug release properties. Fe2+ released from FeSe2 NRs induced the release of •OH from H2O2 via a Fenton/Fenton-like reaction, enhancing the efficacy of CDT. Under alternating magnetic field (AMF) stimulation and 808 nm laser irradiation, FeSe2-MTX exerted potent hyperthermic and photothermal effects by suppressing tumor growth in a breast cancer nude mouse model. In addition, FeSe2 NRs can be used for magnetic resonance imaging in vivo by incorporating their superparamagnetic characteristics into a single nanomaterial. Overall, we presented a novel technique for the precise delivery of functional nanosystems to tumors that can enhance the efficacy of breast cancer treatment.

Antiepileptic drug-loaded and multifunctional iron oxide@silica@gelatin nanoparticles for acid-triggered drug delivery

The current study developed an innovative design for the production of smart multifunctional core-double shell superparamagnetic nanoparticles (NPs) with a focus on the development of a pH-responsive drug delivery system tailored for the controlled release of Phenytoin, accompanied by real-time monitoring capabilities. In this regard, the ultra-small superparamagnetic iron oxide@silica NPs (IO@Si MNPs) were synthesized and then coated with a layer of gelatin containing Phenytoin as an antiepileptic drug. The precise saturation magnetization value for the resultant NPs was established at 26 emu g-1. The polymeric shell showed a pH-sensitive behavior with the capacity to regulate the release of encapsulated drug under neutral pH conditions, simultaneously, releasing more amount of the drug in a simulated tumorous-epileptic acidic condition. The NPs showed an average size of 41.04 nm, which is in the desired size range facilitating entry through the blood-brain barrier. The values of drug loading and encapsulation efficiency were determined to be 2.01 and 10.05%, respectively. Moreover, kinetic studies revealed a Fickian diffusion process of Phenytoin release, and diffusional exponent values based on the Korsmeyer-Peppas equation were achieved at pH 7.4 and pH 6.3. The synthesized NPs did not show any cytotoxicity. Consequently, this new design offers a faster release of PHT at the site of a tumor in response to a change in pH, which is essential to prevent epileptic attacks.

Nanocomposites Based on Magnetic Nanoparticles and Metal-Organic Frameworks for Therapy, Diagnosis, and Theragnostics

In the last two decades, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with highly tunable structure and porosity, have emerged as drug nanocarriers in the biomedical field. In particular, nanoscaled MOFs (nanoMOFs) have been widely investigated because of their potential biocompatibility, high drug loadings, and progressive release. To enhance their properties, MOFs have been combined with magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) to form magnetic nanocomposites (MNP@MOF) with additional functionalities. Due to the magnetic properties of the MNPs, their presence in the nanosystems enables potential combinatorial magnetic targeted therapy and diagnosis. In this Review, we analyze the four main synthetic strategies currently employed for the fabrication of MNP@MOF nanocomposites, namely, mixing, in situ formation of MNPs in presynthesized MOF, in situ formation of MOFs in the presence of MNPs, and layer-by-layer methods. Additionally, we discuss the current progress in bioapplications, focusing on drug delivery systems (DDSs), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), magnetic hyperthermia (MHT), and theragnostic systems. Overall, we provide a comprehensive overview of the recent advances in the development and bioapplications of MNP@MOF nanocomposites, highlighting their potential for future biomedical applications with a critical analysis of the challenges and limitations of these nanocomposites in terms of their synthesis, characterization, biocompatibility, and applicability.

Metal-Organic Framework as a New Type of Magnetothermally-Triggered On-Demand Release Carrier

The development of external stimuli-controlled payload systems has been sought after with increasing interest toward magnetothermally-triggered drug release (MTDR) carriers due to their non-invasive features. However, current MTDR carriers present several limitations, such as poor heating efficiency caused by the aggregation of iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) or the presence of antiferromagnetic phases which affect their efficiency. Herein, a novel MTDR carrier is developed using a controlled encapsulation method that fully fixes and confines IONPs of various sizes within the metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). This novel carrier preserves the MOF's morphology, porosity, and IONP segregation, while enhances heating efficiency through the oxidation of antiferromagnetic phases in IONPs during encapsulation. It also features a magnetothermally-responsive nanobrush that is stimulated by an alternating magnetic field to enable on-demand drug release. The novel carrier shows improved heating, which has potential applications as contrast agents and for combined chemo and magnetic hyperthermia therapy. It holds a great promise for magneto-thermally modulated drug dosing at tumor sites, making it an exciting avenue for cancer treatment.

One-Minute Preparation of Iron Foam-Drug Implant for Ultralow-Power Magnetic Hyperthermia-Based Combination Therapy of Tumors in Vivo

The magnetic hyperthermia-based combination therapy (MHCT) is a powerful tumor treatment approach due to its unlimited tissue penetration depth and synergistic therapeutic effect. However, strong magnetic hyperthermia and facile drug loading are incompatible with current MHCT platforms. Herein, an iron foam (IF)-drug implant is established in an ultra-facile and universal way for ultralow-power MHCT of tumors in vivo for the first time. The IF-drug implant is fabricated by simply immersing IF in a drug solution at an adjustable concentration for 1 min. Continuous metal structure of IF enables ultra-high efficient magnetic hyperthermia based on eddy current thermal effect, and its porous feature provides great space for loading various hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs via "capillary action". In addition, the IF has the merits of low cost, customizable size and shape, and good biocompatibility and biodegradability, benefiting reproducible and large-scale preparation of IF-drug implants for biological application. As a proof of concept, IF-doxorubicin (IF-DOX) is used for combined tumor treatment in vivo and achieves excellent therapeutic efficacy at a magnetic field intensity an order of magnitude lower than the threshold for biosafety application. The proposed IF-drug implant provides a handy and universal method for the fabrication of MHCT platforms for ultralow-power combination therapy.

Recent advances in metal-organic frameworks for stimuli-responsive drug delivery

After entering the human body, drugs for treating diseases, which are prone to delivery and release in an uncontrolled manner, are affected by various factors. Based on this, many researchers utilize various microenvironmental changes encountered during drug delivery to trigger drug release and have proposed stimuli-responsive drug delivery systems. In recent years, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have become promising stimuli-responsive agents to release the loaded therapeutic agents at the target site to achieve more precise drug delivery due to their high drug loading, excellent biocompatibility, and high stimuli-responsiveness. The MOF-based stimuli-responsive systems can respond to various stimuli under pathological conditions at the site of the lesion, releasing the loaded therapeutic agent in a controlled manner, and improving the accuracy and safety of drug delivery. Due to the changes in different physical and chemical factors in the pathological process of diseases, the construction of stimuli-responsive systems based on MOFs has become a new direction in drug delivery and controlled release. Based on the background of the rapidly increasing attention to MOFs applied in drug delivery, we aim to review various MOF-based stimuli-responsive drug delivery systems and their response mechanisms to various stimuli. In addition, the current challenges and future perspectives of MOF-based stimuli-responsive drug delivery systems are also discussed in this review.

Recent advances in functionalized ferrite nanoparticles: From fundamentals to magnetic hyperthermia cancer therapy

Cancers are fatal diseases that lead to most death of human beings, which urgently require effective treatments methods. Hyperthermia therapy employs magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) as heating medium under external alternating magnetic field. Among various MNPs, ferrite nanoparticles (FNPs) have gained significant attention for hyperthermia therapy due to their exceptional magnetic properties, high stability, favorable biological compatibility, and low toxicity. The utilization of FNPs holds immense potential for enhancing the effectiveness of hyperthermia therapy. The main hurdle for hyperthermia treatment includes optimizing the heat generation capacity of FNPs and controlling the local temperature of tumor region. This review aims to comprehensively evaluate the magnetic hyperthermia treatment (MHT) of FNPs, which is accomplished by elucidating the underlying mechanism of heat generation and identifying influential factors. Based upon fundamental understanding of hyperthermia of FNPs, valuable insights will be provided for developing efficient nanoplatforms with enhanced accuracy and magnetothermal properties. Additionally, we will also survey current research focuses on modulating FNPs' properties, external conditions for MHT, novel technical methods, and recent clinical findings. Finally, current challenges in MHT with FNPs will be discussed while prospecting future directions.

The Promise of Metal-Doped Iron Oxide Nanoparticles as Antimicrobial Agent

Antibiotic resistance (AMR) is one of the pressing global public health concerns and projections indicate a potential 10 million fatalities by the year 2050. The decreasing effectiveness of commercially available antibiotics due to the drug resistance phenomenon has spurred research efforts to develop potent and safe antimicrobial agents. Iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs), especially when doped with metals, have emerged as a promising avenue for combating microbial infections. Like IONPs, the antimicrobial activities of doped-IONPs are also linked to their surface charge, size, and shape. Doping metals on nanoparticles can alter the size and magnetic properties by reducing the energy band gap and combining electronic charges with spins. Furthermore, smaller metal-doped nanoparticles tend to exhibit enhanced antimicrobial activity due to their higher surface-to-volume ratio, facilitating greater interaction with bacterial cells. Moreover, metal doping can also lead to increased charge density in magnetic nanoparticles and thereby elevate reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. These ROS play a vital role to disrupt bacterial cell membrane, proteins, or nucleic acids. In this review, we compared the antimicrobial activities of different doped-IONPs, elucidated their mechanism(s), and put forth opinions for improved biocompatibility.

Nanomaterials for detection of biomolecules and delivering therapeutic agents in theragnosis: A review

Nanomaterials are emerging facts used to deliver therapeutic agents in living systems. Nanotechnology is used as a compliment by implementing different kinds of nanotechnological applications such as nano-porous structures, functionalized nanomaterials, quantum dots, carbon nanomaterials, and polymeric nanostructures. The applications are in the initial stage, which led to achieving several diagnoses and therapy in clinical practice. This review conveys the importance of nanomaterials in post-genomic employment, which includes the design of immunosensors, immune assays, and drug delivery. In this view, genomics is a molecular tool containing large databases that are useful in choosing an apt molecular inhibitor such as drug, ligand and antibody target in the drug delivery process. This study identifies the expression of genes and proteins in analysis and classification of diseases. Experimentally, the study analyses the design of a disease model. In particular, drug delivery is a boon area to treat cancer. The identified drugs enter different phase trails (Trails I, II, and III). The genomic information conveys more essential entities to the phase I trials and helps to move further for other trails such as trails-II and III. In such cases, the biomarkers play a crucial role by monitoring the unique pathological process. Genetic engineering with recombinant DNA techniques can be employed to develop genetically engineered disease models. Delivering drugs in a specific area is one of the challenging issues achieved using nanoparticles. Therefore, genomics is considered as a vast molecular tool to identify drugs in personalized medicine for cancer therapy.

Green synthesis of iron nanoparticles: Sources and multifarious biotechnological applications

Green synthesis of iron nanoparticles is a highly fascinating research area and has gained importance due to reliable, sustainable and ecofriendly protocol for synthesizing nanoparticles, along with the easy availability of plant materials and their pharmacological significance. As an alternate to physical and chemical synthesis, the biological materials, like microorganisms and plants are considered to be less costly and environment-friendly. Iron nanoparticles with diverse morphology and size have been synthesized using biological extracts. Microbial (bacteria, fungi, algae etc.) and plant extracts have been employed in green synthesis of iron nanoparticles due to the presence of various metabolites and biomolecules. Physical and biochemical properties of biologically synthesized iron nanoparticles are superior to that are synthesized using physical and chemical agents. Iron nanoparticles have magnetic property with thermal and electrical conductivity. Iron nanoparticles below a certain size (generally 10-20 nm), can exhibit a unique form of magnetism called superparamagnetism. They are non-toxic and highly dispersible with targeted delivery, which are suitable for efficient drug delivery to the target. Green synthesized iron nanoparticles have been explored for multifarious biotechnological applications. These iron nanoparticles exhibited antimicrobial and anticancerous properties. Iron nanoparticles adversely affect the cell viability, division and metabolic activity. Iron nanoparticles have been used in the purification and immobilization of various enzymes/proteins. Iron nanoparticles have shown potential in bioremediation of various organic and inorganic pollutants. This review describes various biological sources used in the green synthesis of iron nanoparticles and their potential applications in biotechnology, diagnostics and mitigation of environmental pollutants.

Temperature-mediated diffusion of nanoparticles in semidilute polymer solutions

The temperature is often a critical factor affecting the diffusion of nanoparticles in complex physiological media, but its specific effects are still to be fully understood. Here, we constructed a temperature-regulated model of semidilute polymer solution and experimentally investigated the temperature-mediated diffusion of nanoparticles using the particle tracking method. By examining the ensemble-averaged mean square displacements (MSDs), we found that the MSD grows gradually as the temperature increases while the transition time from sublinear to linear stage in MSD decreases. Meanwhile, the temperature-dependent measured diffusivity of the nanoparticles shows an exponential growth. We revealed that these temperature-mediated changes are determined by the composite effect of the macroscale property of polymer solution and the microscale dynamics of polymer chain as well as nanoparticles. Furthermore, the measured non-Gaussian displacement probability distributions were found to exhibit non-Gaussian fat tails, and the tailed distribution is enhanced as the temperature increases. The non-Gaussianity was calculated and found to vary in the same trend with the tailed distribution, suggesting the occurrence of hopping events. This temperature-mediated non-Gaussian feature validates the recent theory of thermally induced activated hopping. Our results highlight the temperature-mediated changes in diffusive transport of nanoparticles in polymer solutions and may provide the possible strategy to improve drug delivery in physiological media.

Enhanced therapeutic action of Trastuzumab loaded ZnxMn1-xFe2O4 nanoparticles using a pre-treatment step for hyperthermia treatment of HER2+ breast cancer

In this study, Ferrites (Fe3O4, MnFe2O4, ZnFe2O4) and different stoichiometric ratios of ZnxMn1-xFe2O4 (x = 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, and 0.8) nanoparticles (<15 nm) were synthesized by microwave-assisted method and optimised for hyperthermia studies. The selection of the optimised variant of ferrite i.e. Zn0.4Mn0.6Fe2O4 was found to be the best variant based on VSM (38.14 emu g-1) hyperthermia-based temperature rise (maximum ΔT of 38 °C), SAR and ILP values. Trastuzumab, which is known to bind with HER2 receptors of breast cancer was chemically tethered onto Zn0.4Mn0.6Fe2O4 nanoparticles through EDC/NHS coupling with a loading efficiency of 80%. The attached Trastuzumab aided during the pre-treatment step by aiding in the internalisation of Zn0.4Mn0.6Fe2O4 nanoparticles, with cellular uptake of 11% in SK-BR-3 (cancerous HER2+) cells compared to ∼5% for MDA-MB-231 (cancerous HER2-) and RPE-1 (non-cancerous) cells. In the presence of a hyperthermia trigger for 15 mins, ZnxMn1-xFe2O4 -Trastuzumab formulation had a maximum therapeutic effect by reducing the SK-BR-3 cell viability to 14% without adversely affecting the RPE-1 cells. The mechanism of ZnxMn1-xFe2O4-Trastuzumab combination was examined using an internalisation study, MTT-based viability, proliferation study, and ROS generation assay. By utilizing both Trastuzumab and hyperthermia, we achieve their synergistic anticancer properties while minimizing the drug requirement and reducing any effect on non-cancerous cells.

Protein-Engineered Fibers For Drug Encapsulation Traceable via 19F Magnetic Resonance

Theranostic materials research is experiencing rapid growth driven by the interest in integrating both therapeutic and diagnostic modalities. These materials offer the unique capability to not only provide treatment but also track the progression of a disease. However, to create an ideal theranostic biomaterial without compromising drug encapsulation, diagnostic imaging must be optimized for improved sensitivity and spatial localization. Herein, we create a protein-engineered fluorinated coiled-coil fiber, Q2TFL, capable of improved sensitivity to 19F magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) detection. Leveraging residue-specific noncanonical amino acid incorporation of trifluoroleucine (TFL) into the coiled-coil, Q2, which self-assembles into nanofibers, we generate Q2TFL. We demonstrate that fluorination results in a greater increase in thermostability and 19F magnetic resonance detection compared to the nonfluorinated parent, Q2. Q2TFL also exhibits linear ratiometric 19F MRS thermoresponsiveness, allowing it to act as a temperature probe. Furthermore, we explore the ability of Q2TFL to encapsulate the anti-inflammatory small molecule, curcumin (CCM), and its impact on the coiled-coil structure. Q2TFL also provides hyposignal contrast in 1H MRI, echogenic signal with high-frequency ultrasound and sensitive detection by 19F MRS in vivo illustrating fluorination of coiled-coils for supramolecular assembly and their use with 1H MRI, 19F MRS and high frequency ultrasound as multimodal theranostic agents.

Multifunctional mesoporous silica nanoparticles for biomedical applications

Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) are recognized as a prime example of nanotechnology applied in the biomedical field, due to their easily tunable structure and composition, diverse surface functionalization properties, and excellent biocompatibility. Over the past two decades, researchers have developed a wide variety of MSNs-based nanoplatforms through careful design and controlled preparation techniques, demonstrating their adaptability to various biomedical application scenarios. With the continuous breakthroughs of MSNs in the fields of biosensing, disease diagnosis and treatment, tissue engineering, etc., MSNs are gradually moving from basic research to clinical trials. In this review, we provide a detailed summary of MSNs in the biomedical field, beginning with a comprehensive overview of their development history. We then discuss the types of MSNs-based nanostructured architectures, as well as the classification of MSNs-based nanocomposites according to the elements existed in various inorganic functional components. Subsequently, we summarize the primary purposes of surface-functionalized modifications of MSNs. In the following, we discuss the biomedical applications of MSNs, and highlight the MSNs-based targeted therapeutic modalities currently developed. Given the importance of clinical translation, we also summarize the progress of MSNs in clinical trials. Finally, we take a perspective on the future direction and remaining challenges of MSNs in the biomedical field.

Cancer treatment and toxicity outlook of nanoparticles

Diversified nanosystems with tunable physicochemical attributes have emerged as potential solution to globally devastating cancer by offering novel possibilities for improving the techniques of cancer detection, imaging, therapies, diagnosis, drug delivery and treatment. Drug delivery systems based on nanoparticles (NPs) with ability of crossing different biological barriers are becoming increasingly popular. Besides, NPs are utilized in pharmaceutical sciences to mitigate the toxicity of conventional cancer therapeutics. However, significant NPs-associated toxicity, off-targeted activities, and low biocompatibility limit their utilization for cancer theranostics and can be hazardous to cancer patients up to life-threatening conditions. NPs interact with the biomolecules and disturb their regular function by aggregating inside cells and forming a protein corona, and the formulation turns ineffective in controlling cancer cell growth. The adverse interactions between NPs and biological entities can lead to life-threatening toxicities. This review focuses on the widespread use of various NPs including zinc oxide, titanium oxide, silver, and gold, which serve as efficient nano-vehicles and demonstrate notable pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic advantages in cancer therapy. Subsequently, the mechanism of nanotoxicity attached with these NPs, alternate solutions and their prospect to revolutionize cancer theranostics are highlighted. This review will serve as guide for future developments associated with high-performance NPs with controlled toxicity for establishing them as modern-age nanotools to manage cancer in tailored manner.

Combinational Gene Therapy toward Cancer with Nanoplatform: Strategies and Principles

Cancer remains a significant threat to human health. While numerous therapies have been developed to combat the disease, traditional treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy are suboptimal and associated with significant side effects. Gene therapy is an emerging therapeutic approach that offers improved targeting and reduced side effects compared with traditional treatments. Using siRNA and other nucleic acid-based drugs in cancer treatment has generated significant interest among researchers. Nanocarriers, such as liposomes, can effectively deliver these agents to tumor sites. However, gene therapy alone is often insufficient to eradicate tumors, and there is a risk of recurrence. Therefore, combining gene therapy with other therapies using nanocarriers, such as phototherapy and magnetic hyperthermia therapy, can lead to synergistic therapeutic effects through different mechanisms. In this review, we summarize various ways in which gene therapy can be combined with other therapies and highlight the role of nanoplatforms in mediating these combined therapies, which would inspire novel design ideas toward combination therapies. Additionally, bottlenecks and barriers to gene therapy should be addressed in the near future to achieve better clinical efficacy.

Magnetic UiO-66-NH2 Core-Shell Nanohybrid as a Promising Carrier for Quercetin Targeted Delivery toward Human Breast Cancer Cells

In this study, a magnetic core-shell metal-organic framework (MOF) nanocomposite, Fe3O4-COOH@UiO-66-NH2, was synthesized for tumor-targeting drug delivery by incorporating carboxylate groups as functional groups onto ferrite nanoparticle surfaces, followed by fabrication of the UiO-66-NH2 shell using a facile self-assembly approach. The anticancer drug quercetin (QU) was loaded into the magnetic core-shell nanoparticles. The synthesized magnetic nanoparticles were comprehensively evaluated through multiple techniques, including FT-IR, PXRD, FE-SEM, TEM, EDX, BET, UV-vis, ZP, and VSM. Drug release investigations were conducted to investigate the release behavior of QU from the nanocomposite at two different pH values (7.4 and 5.4). The results revealed that QU@Fe3O4-COOH@UiO-66-NH2 exhibited a high loading capacity of 43.1% and pH-dependent release behavior, maintaining sustained release characteristics over a prolonged duration of 11 days. Furthermore, cytotoxicity assays using the human breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 and the normal cell line HEK-293 were performed to evaluate the cytotoxic effects of QU, UiO-66-NH2, Fe3O4-COOH, Fe3O4-COOH@UiO-66-NH2, and QU@Fe3O4-COOH@UiO-66-NH2. Treatment with QU@Fe3O4-COOH@UiO-66-NH2 substantially reduced the cell viability in cancerous MDA-MB-231 cells. Cellular uptake and cell death mechanisms were further investigated, demonstrating the internalization of QU@Fe3O4-COOH@UiO-66-NH2 by cancer cells and the induction of cancer cell death through the apoptosis pathway. These findings highlight the considerable potential of Fe3O4-COOH@UiO-66-NH2 as a targeted nanocarrier for the delivery of anticancer drugs.

Therapeutic application of manganese-based nanosystems in cancer radiotherapy

Radiotherapy is an important therapeutic modality in the treatment of cancers. Nevertheless, the characteristics of the tumor microenvironment (TME), such as hypoxia and high glutathione (GSH), limit the efficacy of radiotherapy. Manganese-based (Mn-based) nanomaterials offer a promising prospect for sensitizing radiotherapy due to their good responsiveness to the TME. In this review, we focus on the mechanisms of radiosensitization of Mn-based nanosystems, including alleviating tumor hypoxia, increasing reactive oxygen species production, increasing GSH conversion, and promoting antitumor immunity. We further illustrate the applications of these mechanisms in cancer radiotherapy, including the development and delivery of radiosensitizers, as well as their combination with other therapeutic modalities. Finally, we summarize the application of Mn-based nanosystems as contrast agents in realizing precision therapy. Hopefully, the present review will provide new insights into the biological mechanisms of Mn-based nanosystems, as well as their applications in radiotherapy, in order to address the difficulties and challenges that remain in their clinical application in the future.

Quantifying the Efficacy of Magnetic Nanoparticles for MRI and Hyperthermia Applications via Machine Learning Methods

Magnetic nanoparticles are a prospective class of materials for use in biomedicine as agents for magnetic resonance imagining (MRI) and hyperthermia treatment. However, synthesis of nanoparticles with high efficacy is resource-intensive experimental work. In turn, the use of machine learning (ML) methods is becoming useful in materials design and serves as a great approach to designing nanomagnets for biomedicine. In this work, for the first time, an ML-based approach is developed for the prediction of main parameters of material efficacy, i.e., specific absorption rate (SAR) for hyperthermia and r1 /r2 relaxivities in MRI, with parameters of nanoparticles as well as experimental conditions as descriptors. For that, a unique database with more than 980 magnetic nanoparticles collected from scientific articles is assembled. Using this data, several tree-based ensemble models are trained to predict SAR, r1 and r2 relaxivity. After hyperparameter optimization, models reach performances of R2 = 0.86, R2 = 0.78, and R2 = 0.75, respectively. Testing the models on samples unseen during the training shows no performance drops. Finally, DiMag, an open access resource created to guide synthesis of novel nanosized magnets for MRI and hyperthermia treatment with machine learning and boost development of new biomedical agents, is developed.

Extirpating the cancer stem cell hydra: Differentiation therapy and Hyperthermia therapy for targeting the cancer stem cell hierarchy

Ever since the discovery of cancer stem cells (CSCs), they have progressively attracted more attention as a therapeutic target. Like the mythical hydra, this subpopulation of cells seems to contribute to cancer immortality, spawning more cells each time that some components of the cancer cell hierarchy are destroyed. Traditional modalities focusing on cancer treatment have emphasized apoptosis as a route to eliminate the tumor burden. A major problem is that cancer cells are often in varying degrees of dedifferentiation contributing to what is known as the CSCs hierarchy and cells which are known to be resistant to conventional therapy. Differentiation therapy is an experimental therapeutic modality aimed at the conversion of malignant phenotype to a more benign one. Hyperthermia therapy (HT) is a modality exploiting the changes induced in cells by the application of heat produced to aid in cancer therapy. While differentiation therapy has been successfully employed in the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia, it has not been hugely successful for other cancer types. Mounting evidence suggests that hyperthermia therapy may greatly augment the effects of differentiation therapy while simultaneously overcoming many of the hard-to-treat facets of recurrent tumors. This review summarizes the progress made so far in integrating hyperthermia therapy with existing modules of differentiation therapy. The focus is on studies related to the successful application of both hyperthermia and differentiation therapy when used alone or in conjunction for hard-to-treat cancer cell niche with emphasis on combined approaches to target the CSCs hierarchy.

Fortification of Iron Oxide as Sustainable Nanoparticles: An Amalgamation with Magnetic/Photo Responsive Cancer Therapies

Due to their non-toxic function in biological systems, Iron oxide NPs (IO-NPs) are very attractive in biomedical applications. The magnetic properties of IO-NPs enable a variety of biomedical applications. We evaluated the usage of IO-NPs for anticancer effects. This paper lists the applications of IO-NPs in general and the clinical targeting of IO-NPs. The application of IONPs along with photothermal therapy (PTT), photodynamic therapy (PDT), and magnetic hyperthermia therapy (MHT) is highlighted in this review's explanation for cancer treatment strategies. The review's study shows that IO-NPs play a beneficial role in biological activity because of their biocompatibility, biodegradability, simplicity of production, and hybrid NPs forms with IO-NPs. In this review, we have briefly discussed cancer therapy and hyperthermia and NPs used in PTT, PDT, and MHT. IO-NPs have a particular effect on cancer therapy when combined with PTT, PDT, and MHT were the key topics of the review and were covered in depth. The IO-NPs formulations may be uniquely specialized in cancer treatments with PTT, PDT, and MHT, according to this review investigation.

Cobalt ferrite nanoparticle for the elimination of CD133+CD44+ and CD44+CD24-, in breast and skin cancer stem cells, using non-ionizing treatments

Background

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are the most challenging issue in cancer treatment, because of their high resistance mechanisms, that can cause tumor recurrence after common cancer treatments such as drug and radiation based therapies, and the insufficient efficiency of common treatments in CSCs removal and the recurrence of tumors after these treatments, it is essential to consider other methods, including non-ionizing treatments likes light-based treatments and magnetic hyperthermia (MHT).

Method and material

After synthesis, characterization and investigation, the toxicity of novel on A375 and MAD-MB-231 cell lines, magnetic hyperthermia and light-based treatments were applied. MTT assay and flow cytometry was employed to determine cell survival. the influence of combination therapy on CD44 + CD24-and CD133 + CD44+ cell population, Comparison and evaluation of combination treatments was done respectively using Combination Indices (CIs).

Result

The final nanoparticle has a high efficiency in producing hydroxyl radicals and generating heat in MHT. According to CIs, we can conclude that combined using of light-based treatment and MHT in the presence of final synthesized nanoparticle have synergistic effect and a high ability to reduce the population of stem cells in both cell lines compared to single treatments.

Conclusion

In this study a novel multi-functional nanoplatform acted well in dual and triple combined treatments, and showed a good performance in the eradication of CSCs, in A375 and MAD-MB-231 cell lines.

Thermal damage analysis in tissue caused by electromagnetic radiation using space-time collocation method

Over the past half-century, the usage of external heat sources in medical applications has increased substantially. Controlling heat damage is essential for ensuring the efficacy of the treatment. Living tissues are highly non-homogeneous; hence, it is important to take into account the effects of local non-equilibrium on their thermal behavior. In the present study, two- and three- space dimensional time-space fractional single-phase-lag (SPL) and dual-phase-lag (DPL) models for bio-heat transfer in tissue are considered to study the thermal damage and temperature in tissue caused by electromagnetic radiation as an external heat source. The considered mathematical models are more general and consider non-Fourier as well as non-local effects. We obtain the numerical solution for the models by combining Gaussian RBFs and shifted Chebyshev polynomials in the space and time directions, respectively. The RBFs depend on Euclidean distance, so they can easily be used in multidimensional space domain, and the use of Chebyshev polynomials gives spectral accuracy in time direction. It is also explored how different parameters, such as blood perfusion rate Wb, phase lags τq, τt, and fractional derivatives α, β, affect the temperature distribution and thermal damage in the tissue.

Magnetically Enhanced Intracellular Uptake of Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles for Antitumor Therapy

Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) have been widely employed in biomedical fields, including targeted delivery of antitumor therapy. Conventional magnetic tumor targeting has used simple static magnetic fields (SMFs), which cause SPIONs to linearly aggregate into a long chain-like shape. Such agglomeration greatly hinders the intracellular targeting of SPIONs into tumors, thus reducing the therapeutic efficacy. In this study, we investigated the enhancement of the intracellular uptake of SPIONs through the application of rotating magnetic fields (RMFs). Based on the physical principles of SPION chain disassembly, we investigated physical parameters to predict the chain length favorable for intracellular uptake. Our prediction was validated by clear visualization of the intracellular distributions of SPIONs in tumor cells at both cellular and three-dimensional microtissue levels. To identify the potential therapeutic effects of enhanced intracellular uptake, magnetic hyperthermia as antitumor therapy was investigated under varying conditions of magnetic hyperthermia and RMFs. The results showed that enhanced intracellular uptake reduced magnetic hyperthermia time and strength as well as particle concentration. The proposed method will be useful in the development of techniques to determine the optimized physical conditions for the enhanced intracellular uptake of SPIONs in antitumor therapy.

An exhaustive scrutiny to amplify the heating prospects by devising a core@shell nanostructure for constructive magnetic hyperthermia applications

An interfacial integration at the nanoscale domain through a core@shell (CS) nanostructure has constructively unbarred a wide dimension to researchers on biomedical applications, especially for magnetic fluid hyperthermia. Lately, the interconnection of the exchange bias effect (EBE) through the interface coupling to the magnetic heating efficiency has uttered its utmost prominence for researchers. Here, we delineate the ascendency of the heating ability through a coalescing assembly of mixed ferrite Co0.5Zn0.5 Fe2O4 (CZ) and soft magnetic material Fe3O4 (F), by devising a network of CoZnFe2O4@Fe3O4 (CZF) CS nanostructure. A hefty interface activity with validation of the EBE phenomenon is divulged through magnetic scrutiny for the CS sample. The magnetic nanoparticles heating response to applied magnetic field and frequency is discerned at three distinct fields, where the outcome prevailed to inflated specific loss power for CS CZF in distinction to bare F and CZ samples for all the assessments. Remarkably; a lofty intrinsic loss parameter is also perceived for the CS sample recorded to about 5.36 nHm2 g-1; which is another eccentric outcome that significantly labels the CS CZF sample as a potentially high heating competence agent. This comprehension accords to a finer perspective to meliorate the theranostic environment for hyperthermia applications.

Bioactive superparamagnetic iron oxide-gold nanoparticles regulated by a dynamic magnetic field induce neuronal Ca2+ influx and differentiation

Treating neurodegenerative diseases, e.g., Alzheimer's Disease, remains a significant challenge due to the limited neuroregeneration rate in the brain. The objective of this study is to evaluate the hypothesis that external magnetic field (MF) stimulation of nerve growth factor functionalized superparamagnetic iron oxide-gold (NGF-SPIO-Au) nanoparticles (NPs) can induce Ca²⁺ influx, membrane depolarization, and enhance neuron differentiation with dynamic MF (DMF) outperforming static MF (SMF) regulation. We showed the that total intracellular Ca²⁺ influx of PC-12 cells was improved by 300% and 535% by the stimulation of DMF (1 Hz, 0.5 T, 30min) with NGF-SPIO-Au NPs compared to DMF alone and SMF with NGF-SPIO-Au NPs, respectively, which was attributed to successive membrane depolarization. Cellular uptake performed with the application of sodium azide proved that DMF enhanced cellular uptake of NGF-SPIO-Au NPs via endocytosis. In addition, DMF upregulated both the neural differentiation marker (β3-tubulin) and the cell adhesive molecule (integrin-β1) with the existence of NGF-SPIO-Au NPs, while SMF did not show these effects. The results imply that noninvasive DMF-stimulated NPs can regulate intracellular Ca²⁺ influx and enhance neuron differentiation and neuroregeneration rate.

Treatment with FAP-targeted zinc ferrite nanoparticles for rheumatoid arthritis by inducing endoplasmic reticulum stress and mitochondrial damage

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a common chronic inflammatory disease characterized by the proliferation of fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS), pannus development, cartilage, and bone degradation, and, eventually, loss of joint function. Fibroblast activating protein (FAP) is a particular product of activated FLS and is highly prevalent in RA-derived fibroblast-like synoviocytes (RA-FLS). In this study, zinc ferrite nanoparticles (ZF-NPs) were engineered to target FAP+ (FAP positive) FLS. ZF-NPswere discovered to better target FAP+ FLS due to the surface alteration of FAP peptide and to enhance RA-FLS apoptosis by activating the endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) system via the PERK-ATF4-CHOP, IRE1-XBP1 pathway, and mitochondrial damage of RA-FLS. Treatment with ZF-NPs under the influence of an alternating magnetic field (AMF) can significantly amplify ERS and mitochondrial damage via the magnetocaloric effect. It was also observed in adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) mice that FAP-targeted ZF-NPs (FAP-ZF-NPs) could significantly suppress synovitis in vivo, inhibit synovial tissue angiogenesis, protect articular cartilage, and reduce M1 macrophage infiltration in synovium in AIA mice. Furthermore, treatment of AIA mice with FAP-ZF-NPs was found to be more promising in the presence of an AMF. These findings demonstrate the potential utility of FAP-ZF-NPs in the treatment of RA.