Porphyrin-High-Density Lipoprotein: A Novel Photosensitizing Nanoparticle for Lung Cancer Therapy

Self-Disassembling and Oxygen-Generating Porphyrin-Lipoprotein Nanoparticle for Targeted Glioblastoma Resection and Enhanced Photodynamic Therapy

The dismal prognosis for glioblastoma multiform (GBM) patients is primarily attributed to the highly invasive tumor residual that remained after surgical intervention. The development of precise intraoperative imaging and postoperative residual removal techniques will facilitate the gross total elimination of GBM. Here, a self-disassembling porphyrin lipoprotein-coated calcium peroxide nanoparticles (PLCNP) is developed to target GBM via macropinocytosis, allowing for fluorescence-guided surgery of GBM and improving photodynamic treatment (PDT) of GBM residual by alleviating hypoxia. By reducing self-quenching and enhancing lysosome escape efficiency, the incorporation of calcium peroxide (CaO2) cores in PLCNP amplifies the fluorescence intensity of porphyrin-lipid. Furthermore, the CaO2 core has diminished tumor hypoxia and improves the PDT efficacy of PLCNP, enabling low-dose PDT and reversing tumor progression induced by hypoxia aggravation following PDT. Taken together, this self-disassembling and oxygen-generating porphyrin-lipoprotein nanoparticle may serve as a promising all-in-one nanotheranostic platform for guiding precise GBM excision and empowering post-operative PDT, providing a clinically applicable strategy to combat GBM in a safe and effective manner.

Potential Applications of Nanoparticles in Improving the Outcome of Lung Cancer Treatment

Lung cancer is managed using conventional therapies, including chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or a combination of both. Each of these therapies has its own limitations, such as the indiscriminate killing of normal as well as cancer cells, the solubility of the chemotherapeutic drugs, rapid clearance of the drugs from circulation before reaching the tumor site, the resistance of cancer cells to radiation, and over-sensitization of normal cells to radiation. Other treatment modalities include gene therapy, immunological checkpoint inhibitors, drug repurposing, and in situ cryo-immune engineering (ICIE) strategy. Nanotechnology has come to the rescue to overcome many shortfalls of conventional therapies. Some of the nano-formulated chemotherapeutic drugs, as well as nanoparticles and nanostructures with surface modifications, have been used for effective cancer cell killing and radio sensitization, respectively. Nano-enabled drug delivery systems act as cargo to deliver the sensitizer molecules specifically to the tumor cells, thereby enabling the radiation therapy to be more effective. In this review, we have discussed the different conventional chemotherapies and radiation therapies used for inhibiting lung cancer. We have also discussed the improvement in chemotherapy and radiation sensitization using nanoparticles.

Enhanced Permeability and Retention Effect: A key facilitator for solid tumor targeting by nanoparticles

Exploring the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect through therapeutic nanoparticles has been a subject of considerable interest in tumor biology. This passive targeting based phenomenon exploits the leaky blood vasculature and the defective lymphatic drainage system of the heterogeneous tumor microenvironment resulting in enhanced preferential accumulation of the nanoparticles within the tumor tissues. This article reviews the fundamental studies to assess how the EPR effect plays an essential role in passive targeting. Further, it summarizes various therapeutic modalities of nanoformulation including chemo-photodynamic therapy, intravascular drug release, and photothermal immunotherapy to combat cancer using enhanced EPR effect in neoplasia region.

Targeted photodynamic therapy using reconstituted high-density lipoproteins as rhodamine transporters

Reconstituted high-density lipoprotein (rHDL) nanoparticles are excellent transporters of molecules and very useful for targeted therapy as they specifically recognize the scavenger receptor, class B1 (SR-B1) that is present on the surface of a wide range of tumor cells. However, they have rarely been employed to transport photosensitizers (PS) for photodynamic therapy (PDT). Rhodamine (R) compounds have been dismissed as useful PSs for PDT due to their low ¹O₂ production, excitation wavelengths with little tissue penetration, and poor selectivity for tumor cells. It was recently demonstrated that when irradiating at 532 nm or with Cerenkov radiation (CR) from a β-emitting radionuclide, R123, R6G, and RB undergo electron transfer reactions (type I reaction) with folic acid. R6G also produces type I reactions with O₂. In this work, the photodynamic effects of the rHDL-R system were evaluated in vitro. rHDL nanoparticles loaded with R123, R6G, and RB were synthesized, and the PS was internalized into T47D tumor cells. When cells were irradiated with a 532-nm laser in the presence of an rHDL-R systems, a cytotoxic photodynamic effect was obtained in the order R6G > R123 > RB. In the presence of CR from a ¹⁷⁷Lu source, cytotoxicity showed the order R6G > RB > R123. The higher cytotoxicity induced by R6G in both cases corresponds to higher cellular internalization and larger production of type I and II reactions. Thus, in this work, it is proposed that rHDL-R/¹⁷⁷Lu system can be applied in theragnostics as a multimodal radiotherapy-PDT-imaging system (imaging by SPECT or Cerenkov) and in hypoxic solid tumors in which external radiation is not effective and ¹⁷⁷Lu-CR acts as light source.

Bioadhesive chitosan nanoparticles: Dual targeting and pharmacokinetic aspects for advanced lung cancer treatment

The chitosan-folate conjugate was synthesized initially and confirmed by FTIR and NMR spectroscopic studies. Following, docetaxel (DXL) loaded non-targeted, single receptor and dual receptor (folate and EGFR) targeted chitosan nanoparticles were prepared and their shape, particle size, zeta-potential, surface morphology and texture were screened by SEM, TEM, AFM analyses. Surface chemistry analysis by XPS indeed confirmed the successful conjugation of folate and cetuximab on the targeted formulations. In-vitro analysis of dual-targeted chitosan nanoparticles has revealed their superior cytotoxicity against A-549 cells. The IC₅₀ of dual receptor-targeted chitosan NP was almost 34 times lower than DXL control. In-vivo pharmacokinetic study on Wistar rats has demonstrated improved relative bioavailability of all NP in comparison to DXL control. The results illustrated that EGFR and folate dual targeted NP enhanced the cytotoxicity of DXL towards A-549 lung cancer cells and substantially improved DXL pharmacokinetics in rats.

Hybrid Nanoparticles as an Efficient Porphyrin Delivery System for Cancer Cells to Enhance Photodynamic Therapy

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a potential non-invasive approach for application in oncological diseases, based on the activation of a photosensitizer (PS) by light at a specific wavelength in the presence of molecular oxygen to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) that trigger the death tumor cells. In this context, porphyrins are interesting PS because they are robust, have high chemical, photo, thermal, and oxidative stability, and can generate singlet oxygen (1O2). However, porphyrins exhibit low solubility and a strong tendency to aggregate in a biological environment which limits their clinical application. To overcome these challenges, we developed hybrid nanostructures to immobilize 5,10,15,20-tetrakis[(4-carboxyphenyl) thio-2,3,5,6-tetrafluorophenyl] (P), a new third-generation PS. The biological effect of this system was evaluated against bladder cancer (BC) cells with or without light exposition. The nanostructure composed of lipid carriers coated by porphyrin-chitosan (P-HNP), presented a size of ca. 130 nm and low polydispersity (ca. 0.25). The presence of the porphyrin-chitosan (P-chitosan) on lipid nanoparticle surfaces increased the nanoparticle size, changed the zeta potential to positive, decreased the recrystallization index, and increased the thermal stability of nanoparticles. Furthermore, P-chitosan incorporation on nanoparticles increased the stability and enhanced the self-organization of the system and the formation of spherical structures, as observed by small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) analysis. Furthermore, the immobilization process maintained the P photoactivity and improved the photophysical properties of PS, minimizing its aggregation in the cell culture medium. In the photoinduction assays, the P-HNP displayed high phototoxicity with IC50 3.2-folds lower than free porphyrin. This higher cytotoxic effect can be correlated to the high cellular uptake of porphyrin immobilized, as observed by confocal images. Moreover, the coated nanoparticles showed mucoadhesive properties interesting to its application in vivo. Therefore, the physical and chemical properties of nanoparticles may be relevant to improve the porphyrin photodynamic activity in BC cells.

Repeated porphyrin lipoprotein-based photodynamic therapy controls distant disease in mouse mesothelioma via the abscopal effect

While photodynamic therapy (PDT) can induce acute inflammation in the irradiated tumor site, a sustained systemic, adaptive immune response is desirable, as it may control the growth of nonirradiated distant disease. Previously, we developed porphyrin lipoprotein (PLP), a ∼20 nm nanoparticle photosensitizer, and observed that it not only efficiently eradicated irradiated primary VX2 buccal carcinomas in rabbits, but also induced regression of nonirradiated metastases in a draining lymph node. We hypothesized that PLP-mediated PDT can induce an abscopal effect and we sought to investigate the immune mechanism underlying such a response in a highly aggressive, dual subcutaneous AE17-OVA+ mesothelioma model in C57BL/6 mice. Four cycles of PLP-mediated PDT was sufficient to delay the growth of a distal, nonirradiated tumor four-fold relative to controls. Serum cytokine analysis revealed high interleukin-6 levels, showing a 30-fold increase relative to phosphate-buffered solution (PBS) treated mice. Flow cytometry revealed an increase in CD4+ T cells and effector memory CD8+ T cells in non-irradiated tumors. Notably, PDT in combination with PD-1 antibody therapy prolonged survival compared to monotherapy and PBS. PLP-mediated PDT shows promise in generating a systemic immune response that can complement other treatments, improving prognoses for patients with metastatic cancers.

Bio-Nanocarriers for Lung Cancer Management: Befriending the Barriers

Lung cancer is a complex thoracic malignancy developing consequential to aberrations in a myriad of molecular and biomolecular signaling pathways. It is one of the most lethal forms of cancers accounting to almost 1.8 million new annual incidences, bearing overall mortality to incidence ratio of 0.87. The dismal prognostic scenario at advanced stages of the disease and metastatic/resistant tumor cell populations stresses the requisite of advanced translational interdisciplinary interventions such as bionanotechnology. This review article deliberates insights and apprehensions on the recent prologue of nanobioengineering and bionanotechnology as an approach for the clinical management of lung cancer. The role of nanobioengineered (bio-nano) tools like bio-nanocarriers and nanobiodevices in secondary prophylaxis, diagnosis, therapeutics, and theranostics for lung cancer management has been discussed. Bioengineered, bioinspired, and biomimetic bio-nanotools of considerate translational value have been reviewed. Perspectives on existent oncostrategies, their critical comparison with bio-nanocarriers, and issues hampering their clinical bench side to bed transformation have also been summarized.

MRP1-targeted near infrared photoimmunotherapy for drug resistant small cell lung cancer

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC), one of the most aggressive cancers, has a high mortality rate and poor prognosis, and the clinical therapeutic outcomes of multidrug resistant SCLC are even worse. Multidrug resistance protein 1 (MRP1), one of the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter proteins that cause decreased drug accumulation in cancer cells, is overexpressed in drug resistant SCLC cells and could be a promising target for treating the patients suffering from this illness. Near infrared photoimmunotherapy (NIR-PIT) is a newly developed approach for targeted cancer treatment which uses a conjugate of a monoclonal antibody and photoabosorber IR700 followed by NIR light irradiation to induce rapid cancer cell death. In the present study, an anti-MRP1 antibody (Mab) -IR700 conjugate (Mab-IR700) was synthesized, purified and used to treat chemoresistant SCLC H69AR cells that overexpressed MRP1, while non-MRP1-expressing H69 cells were used as a control. Then, the photokilling and tumor suppression effect were separately evaluated in H69AR cells both in vitro and in vivo. Higher cellular delivery of Mab-IR700 was detected in H69AR cells, whereas there was little uptake of IgG-IR700 in both H69 and H69AR cells. Due to the targeting activity of Mab, stronger photokilling effect was found both in H69AR cells and spheroids treated with Mab-IR700, while superior tumor suppression effect was also observed in the mice treated with Mab-IR700 and light illumination. Photoacoustic imaging results proved that oxygen was involved in NIR-PIT treatment, and TUNEL staining images showed the occurrence of cell apoptosis, which was also testified by HE staining. This research provides MRP1 as a novel target for PIT and presents a prospective way for treating drug resistant SCLC and, thus, should be further studied.

Targeted Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) of Lung Cancer with Biotinylated Silicon (IV) Phthalocyanine

BACKGROUND

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-associated mortality in the world. Traditional cancer therapies prolong the life expectancy of patients but often suffer from adverse reactions. Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) has been recommended as a treatment option for lung cancer in several countries, due to its non-invasive procedures, high selectivity and weak side effects.

OBJECTIVE

We have designed and synthesized a biotin receptor-targeted silicon phthalocyanine (IV) (compound 1) which showed a good therapeutic effect on biotin receptor-positive tumors. Since the overexpression of Biotin Receptor (BR) is also present in human lung cancer cells (A549), we explored the therapeutic properties of compound 1 on A549 xenograft tumor models.

METHODS

The selectivity of compound 1 toward A549 cells was studied with a fluorescence microscope and IVIS Spectrum Imaging System. The cytotoxicity was measured using the MTT assay. In vivo anti-tumor activity was investigated on the nude mice bearing A549 xenografts.

RESULTS

In vitro assays proved that compound 1 could selectively accumulate in A549 cells via the BR-mediated internalization. In vivo imaging and distribution experiments showed that compound 1 could selectively accumulate in tumor tissues of tumor-bearing mice. After 16 days of the treatment, the volumes of tumor in the PDT group were obviously smaller than that in other groups.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates that compound 1 is a promising photosensitizer and has broad application prospects in clinical PDT of lung cancers.

Apolipoprotein A1 is negatively associated with male papillary thyroid cancer patients: a cross-sectional study of single academic center in China

BACKGROUND

Papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) is the most common type of thyroid cancer and the incidence of PTC has continued to increase over the past decades. Many studies have shown that obesity is an independent risk factor for PTC and obese PTC patients tend to have a relative larger tumor size and higher grade of tumor stage. Obesity is associated with disordered lipid metabolism and the relationship between serum lipids and PTC remains unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the association between serum lipid level and PTC.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed 1018 PTC patients diagnosed and treated in our hospital, all these cases were first diagnosed with PTC and had complete clinical information including ultrasound reports before surgery, serum lipid (CHOL, TG, HDL-c, LDL-c, Apo-A1, Apo-B, Apo-E) results, surgical records and pathological reports.

RESULTS

None of these lipid markers were associated with tumor size in the whole cohort and in the female group. In the male group, on crude analysis, Apo-A1 showed a marginally association with tumor size, [OR = 0.158 (0.021-1.777)], p = 0.072. After adjusting for age and multifocality, Apo-A1 showed a significant association with tumor size [OR = 0.126 (0.016-0.974)], p = 0.047. This association become more apparent in a young male subgroup, [OR = 0.051 (0.005-0.497)], p = 0.009. CHOL, TG, HDL-c, LDL-c, Apo-B, Apo-E did not show significant association with tumor size. As for LNM, neither in the male group nor in the female group were found to be associated with any serum lipid biomarkers.

CONCLUSION

As PTC incidences continues to increase, our findings demonstrated a negatively association between PTC and apoA-1 in male PTC patients, which may contribute to further investigation concerning diagnosing and preventing this most common type of thyroid cancer.

Apolipoprotein mimetics in cancer

Peptides have many advantages over traditional therapeutics, including small molecules and other biologics, because of their low toxicity and immunogenicity, while still exhibiting efficacy. This review discusses the benefits and mechanism of action of apolipoprotein mimetic peptides in tumor biology and their potential utility in treating various cancers. Among lipoproteins in the circulation, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and its constituents including apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I; the predominant protein in HDL), apoJ, and apoE, harbor anti-tumorigenic activities. Peptides that mimic apoA-I function have been developed through molecular mimicry of the amphipathic α-helices of apoA-I. Oral apoA-I mimetic peptides remodel HDL, promote cholesterol efflux, sequester oxidized lipids, and activate anti-inflammatory processes. ApoA-I and apoJ mimetic peptides ameliorate various metrics of cancer progression and have demonstrated efficacy in preclinical models in the inhibition of ovarian, colon, breast, and metastatic lung cancers. Apolipoprotein mimetic peptides are poorly absorbed when administered orally and rapidly degraded when injected into the circulation. The small intestine is the major site of action for apoA-I mimetic peptides and recent studies suggest that modulation of immune cells in the lamina propria of the small intestine is, in part, a potential mechanism of action. Finally, several recent studies underscore the use of reconstituted HDL as target-specific nanoparticles carrying poorly soluble or unstable therapeutics to tumors even across the blood-brain barrier. Preclinical studies suggest that these versatile recombinant lipoprotein based nanoparticles and apolipoprotein mimetics can serve as safe, novel drug delivery, and therapeutic agents for the treatment of a number of cancers.

Exploring the Applications of the Photoprotective Properties of Anthocyanins in Biological Systems

Due to their physical and chemical characteristics, anthocyanins are amongst the most versatile groups of natural compounds. Such unique signature makes these compounds a focus in several different areas of research. Anthocyanins have well been reported as bioactive compounds in a myriad of health disorders such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and obesity, among others, due to their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-diabetic, anti-bacterial, and anti-proliferative capacities. Such a vast number of action mechanisms may be also due to the number of structurally different anthocyanins plus their related derivatives. In this review, we highlight the recent advances on the potential use of anthocyanins in biological systems with particular focus on their photoprotective properties. Topics such as skin aging and eye degenerative diseases, highly influenced by light, and the action of anthocyanins against such damages will be discussed. Photodynamic Therapy and the potential role of anthocyanins as novel photosensitizers will be also a central theme of this review.

Current trends in pyrrole and porphyrin-derived nanoscale materials for biomedical applications

This article is written to provide an up-to-date review of pyrrole-based biomedical materials. Porphyrins and other tetrapyrrolic molecules possess unique magnetic, optical and other photophysical properties that make them useful for bioimaging and therapy. This review touches briefly on some of the synthetic strategies to obtain porphyrin- and tetrapyrrole-based nanoparticles, as well as the variety of applications in which crosslinked, self-assembled, porphyrin-coated and other nanoparticles are utilized. We explore examples of these nanoparticles' applications in photothermal therapy, drug delivery, photodynamic therapy, stimuli response, fluorescence imaging, photoacoustic imaging, magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography and positron emission tomography. We anticipate that this review will provide a comprehensive summary of pyrrole-derived nanoparticles and provide a guideline for their further development.

Lipoprotein Drug Delivery Vehicles for Cancer: Rationale and Reason

Lipoproteins are a family of naturally occurring macromolecular complexes consisting amphiphilic apoproteins, phospholipids, and neutral lipids. The physiological role of mammalian plasma lipoproteins is to transport their apolar cargo (primarily cholesterol and triglyceride) to their respective destinations through a highly organized ligand-receptor recognition system. Current day synthetic nanoparticle delivery systems attempt to accomplish this task; however, many only manage to achieve limited results. In recent years, many research labs have employed the use of lipoprotein or lipoprotein-like carriers to transport imaging agents or drugs to tumors. The purpose of this review is to highlight the pharmacologic, clinical, and molecular evidence for utilizing lipoprotein-based formulations and discuss their scientific rationale. To accomplish this task, evidence of dynamic drug interactions with circulating plasma lipoproteins are presented. This is followed by epidemiologic and molecular data describing the association between cholesterol and cancer.

Rational Design of Photosynthesis-Inspired Nanomedicines

The sun is the most abundant source of energy on earth. Phototrophs have discovered clever strategies to harvest this light energy and convert it to chemical energy for biomass production. This is achieved in light-harvesting complexes, or antennas, that funnel the exciton energy into the reaction centers. Antennas contain an array of chlorophylls, linear tetrapyrroles, and carotenoid pigments spatially controlled by neighboring proteins. This fine-tuned regulation of protein-pigment arrangements is crucial for survival in the conditions of both excess and extreme light deficit. Photomedicine and photodiagnosis have long been utilizing naturally derived and synthetic monomer dyes for imaging, photodynamic and photothermal therapy; however, the precise regulation of damage inflicted by these therapies requires more complex architectures. In this Account, we discuss how two mechanisms found in photosynthetic systems, photoprotection and light harvesting, have inspired scientists to create nanomedicines for more effective and precise phototherapies. Researchers have been recapitulating natural photoprotection mechanisms by utilizing carotenoids and other quencher molecules toward the design of photodynamic molecular beacons (PDT beacons) for disease-specific photoactivation. We highlight the seminal studies describing peptide-linked porphyrin-carotenoid PDT beacons, which are locally activated by a disease-specific enzyme. Examples of more advanced constructs include tumor-specific mRNA-activatable and polyionic cell-penetrating PDT beacons. An alternative approach toward harnessing photosynthetic processes for biomedical applications includes the design of various nanostructures. This Account will primarily focus on organic lipid-based micro- and nanoparticles. The phenomenon of nonphotochemical quenching, or excess energy release in the form of heat, has been widely explored in the context of porphyrin-containing nanomedicines. These quenched nanostructures can be implemented toward photoacoustic imaging and photothermal therapy. Upon nanostructure disruption, as a result of tissue accumulation and subsequent cell uptake, activatable fluorescence imaging and photodynamic therapy can be achieved. Alternatively, processes found in nature for light harvesting under dim conditions, such as in the deep sea, can be harnessed to maximize light absorption within the tissue. Specifically, high-ordered dye aggregation that results in a bathochromic shift and increased absorption has been exploited for the collection of more light with longer wavelengths, characterized by maximum tissue penetration. Overall, the profound understanding of photosynthetic systems combined with rapid development of nanotechnology has yielded a unique field of nature-inspired photomedicine, which holds promise toward more precise and effective phototherapies.