Sono-photodynamic modality for cancer treatment using bio-degradable bio-conjugated sonnelux nanocomposite in tumor-bearing mice: Activated cancer therapy using light and ultrasound

Pulsed cavitation ultrasound assisted delivery of cardamom, pistacia and laurel encapsulated micelles nanoparticles for sono-photodynamic lymphoma in vitro and in vivo treatment

Sono-photodynamic therapy (SPDT) has attracted a lot of interest as a cutting-edge therapeutic strategy in the field of cancer treatment. The essential part of SPDT is the sensitizer, which under laser photon and pulsed cavitation ultrasound sono-irradiation may transform sono and photo- energy into cytotoxic molecules. Photon absorption, targeting, penetration, and oxygen dependence remain challenges in sono- -photosensitizer (SPs) design. Rapid advancements in material science have prompted the creation of several SPs that create cytotoxic species with great selectivity, safety, and noninvasiveness for the treatment of tumors. The current study aims to provide an advanced method of activated cancer treatment by using pulsed cavitation to assist the delivery of cardamom, pistacia and laurel conjugated micelles nanoparticles (CPL-Micelle NP) for the sono-photodynamic lymphoma in vivo and in vitro treatment. Human lymphoma cells (U-937) were used in the in vitro study, and the in vivo application groups of the study protocol were Swiss albino mice treated with 9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-Benzanthracene (DMBA) only; they were not given any treatment to induce lymphoma. The study treatment protocol started only after lymphoma induction, and involved daily administration of CPL-Micelle NP as SPDT sensitizer whether or not to be exposed to photo- (IRL) or sono- (US) or a combination of them for three minutes for a period of two weeks. Indicated that Micelle NP is a useful CPL delivery mechanism that targets lymphoma cells directly. Furthermore, CPL-Micelle NP is a promising SPS that, when used in conjunction with SPDT, can be very effective in in vitro treating lymphoma-U-937 (in a dose-dependent manner cell viability declined, an increase in the cells population during the S and G2/M phases indicates that the cell cycle was arrested, and an increase in cell population in the Pre-G, autophagic cell death, as well as necrosis and early and late apoptosis, indicate that cell death was induced) and DMBA-Lymphoma-induced mice in vivo (induced antiproliferative genes, repressed antiangiogenic and antiapoptotic genes), successfully slowing the growth of tumors and even killing cancer cells, as well as lowering oxidative stress malondialdehyde (MDA), improving the functions of the kidneys, liver, and enzymatic and non enzymatic antioxidants. SPDT, the photo- or sono- chemical CPL activation mechanism, and the antioxidant capacity of non-activated CPL can all be linked to this process. On the bases of the findings, CPL-Micelle NP shows a great promise as a novel, efficient selective delivery system for localized SPDT-activated lymphoma treatment.

Exploring improved strategies for therapeutic studies and biological activities of novel zinc and indium phthalocyanines

This study investigates novel zinc and indium phthalocyanines with Schiff base and sulphur moieties, focusing on their potential for cancer therapy and antimicrobial applications. It explores the effectiveness of photochemical and sono-photochemical methods to enhance singlet oxygen production, which is crucial for photodynamic therapy. The synthesized complexes in this study demonstrated high singlet oxygen quantum yields, with D3 (ZnPc) and D4 (InPc) showing ΦΔPDT values of 0.71 and 0.75, and ΦΔSPDT values of 0.91 and 0.94, respectively. Furthermore, the evaluation for biological properties revealed that both D3 and D4 exhibit significant antidiabetic properties, DPPH radical scavenging activity, DNA cleavage, antimicrobial activity, biofilm inhibition, and microbial cell viability impacts, both with and without photodynamic therapy. Notably, D3 and D4 achieved antimicrobial cell viability inhibition rates of 84.67 ± 4.67% and 98.32 ± 5.96%, respectively, showcasing their effectiveness in photodynamic antimicrobial therapy. Overall, the study highlights the potential of these phthalocyanine complexes as advanced photosensitizers, with strong singlet oxygen generation and promising biological activities, paving the way for future therapeutic applications.

Advances and perspectives in phototherapy-based combination therapy for cancer treatment

Phototherapy, including photothermal therapy (PTT) and photodynamic therapy (PDT), has the advantages of spatiotemporal selectivity, non-invasiveness, and negligible drug resistance. Phototherapy has been approved for treating superficial epidermal tumors. However, its therapeutic efficacy is limited by the hypoxic tumor microenvironment and the highly expressed heat shock protein. Moreover, poor tissue penetration and focused irradiation laser region in phototherapy make treating deep tissues and metastatic tumors challenging. Combination therapy strategies, which integrate the advantages of each treatment and overcome their disadvantages, can significantly improve the therapeutic efficacy. Recently, many combination therapy strategies have been reported. Our study summarizes the strategies used for combining phototherapy with other cancer treatments such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy, sonodynamic therapy, gas therapy, starvation therapy, and chemodynamic therapy. Some research cases were selected to analyze the combination therapy effect, delivery platform feature, and synergetic anticancer mechanisms. Moreover, additional research cases are summarized in the tables. This review provides strong evidence that phototherapy-based combination strategies can enhance the anticancer effect compared with phototherapy alone. Additionally, the challenges and future perspectives associated with these combinational therapies are discussed.

Microneedle combined with iontophoresis and electroporation for assisted transdermal delivery of goniothalamus macrophyllus for enhancement sonophotodynamic activated cancer therapy

The underlying study was carried out aiming at transdermal drug delivery (TDD) of Goniothalamus macrophyllus as sono-photo-sensitizer (SPS) using microneedle (MN) arrays with iontophoresis (MN-IP), electroporation (MN-EP) in conjunction with applying photodynamic therapy (PDT), sonodynamic therapy (SDT) and sono-photodynamic therapy (SPDT) as an up-to-date activated cancer treatment modality. Study was conducted on 120 male Swiss Albino mice, inoculated with Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) divided into 9 groups. We employed three different arrays of MN electrodes were used (parallel, triangular, and circular), EP, IP with different volts (6, 9, 12 V), an infrared laser and an ultrasound (pulsed and continuous wave) as our two energy sources. Results revealed that parallel 6 V TDD@MN@IP@EP can be used as effective delivery system for G. macrophyllus from skin directly to target EAC cells. In addition MN@IP@EP@TDD G. macrophyllus is a potential SPS for SPDT treatment of EAC. With respect to normal control mice and as opposed to the EAC untreated control mice, MN@EP@IP TDD G. macrophyllus in the laser, ultrasound, and combination activated groups showed a significant increase in the antioxidant markers TAC level and the GST, GR, Catalase, and SOD activities, while decrease in lipid peroxidation oxidative stress parameter MDA levels. In addition significantly increased apoptotic genes expressions (p53, caspase (3, 9), Bax, and TNF alpha) and on the other hand decreased anti- apoptotic (Bcl-2) and angiogenic (VEGF) genes expressions. Moreover significantly ameliorate liver and kidney function decreasing ALT, AST, urea and creatinine respectively. Furthermore MN@IP@EP@TDD G. macrophyllus combined with SPDT was very effective at reducing the growth of tumors and even causing cell death according to microscopic H&E stain results. This process may be related to a sono- and/or photochemical activation mechanism. According to the findings, MN@IP@EP@TDD G. macrophyllus has a lot of potential as a novel, efficient delivery method that in combination with infrared laser and ultrasound activation SPDT demonstrated promising anticancer impact for treating cancer.

Biodegradable nanomaterials for diagnosis and therapy of tumors

Although degradable nanomaterials have been widely designed and applied for cancer bioimaging and various cancer treatments, few reviews of biodegradable nanomaterials have been reported. Herein, we have summarized the representative research advances of biodegradable nanomaterials with respect to the mechanism of degradation and their application in tumor imaging and therapy. First, four kinds of tumor microenvironment (TME) responsive degradation are presented, including pH, glutathione (GSH), hypoxia and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) responsive degradation. Second, external stimulation degradation is summarized briefly. Next, we have outlined the applications of nanomaterials in bioimaging. Finally, we have focused on some typical examples of biodegradable nanomaterials in radiotherapy (RT), photothermal therapy (PTT), starvation therapy, photodynamic therapy (PDT), chemotherapy, chemodynamic therapy (CDT), sonodynamic therapy (SDT), gene therapy, immunotherapy and combination therapy.

Reactive oxygen species as mediators of disease progression and therapeutic response in colorectal cancer

Significance Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are critical to normal cellular function with redox homeostasis achieved by balancing ROS production with removal through detoxification mechanisms. Many of the conventional chemotherapies used to treat colorectal cancer (CRC) derive a proportion of their cytotoxicity from ROS generation and resistance to chemotherapy is associated with elevated detoxification mechanisms. Furthermore, cancer stem cells demonstrate elevated detoxification mechanisms making definitive treatment with existing chemotherapy challenging. In this article we review the roles of ROS in normal and malignant colonic cell biology and how existing and emerging therapies might harness ROS for therapeutic benefit. Recent advances Recent publications have elucidated the contribution of ROS to the cytotoxicity of conventional chemotherapy alongside the emerging approaches of photodynamic therapy (PDT), sonodynamic therapy (SDT) and radiodynamic therapy (RDT) in which ROS are generated in response to excitatory light, sound or X-ray stimuli to promote cancer cell apoptosis. Critical issues The majority of patients with metastatic CRC have a very poor prognosis with 5-year survival of approximately 13% making the need for new or more effective treatments an imperative. Future Directions Modulation of ROS through a combination of new and emerging therapies may improve the efficacy of current chemotherapy providing novel approaches to treat otherwise resistant disease.

Ultrasound nanotheranostics: Toward precision medicine

Ultrasound (US) is a mechanical wave that can penetrate biological tissues and trigger complex bioeffects. The mechanisms of US in different diagnosis and treatment are different, and the functional application of commercial US is also expanding. In particular, recent developments in nanotechnology have led to a wider use of US in precision medicine. In this review, we focus on US in combination with versatile micro and nanoparticles (NPs)/nanovesicles for tumor theranostics. We first introduce US-assisted drug delivery as a stimulus-responsive approach that spatiotemporally regulates the deposit of nanomedicines in target tissues. Multiple functionalized NPs and their US-regulated drug-release curves are analyzed in detail. Moreover, as a typical representative of US therapy, sonodynamic antitumor strategy is attracting researchers' attention. The collaborative efficiency and mechanisms of US and various nano-sensitizers such as nano-porphyrins and organic/inorganic nanosized sensitizers are outlined in this paper. A series of physicochemical processes during ultrasonic cavitation and NPs activation are also discussed. Finally, the new applications of US and diagnostic NPs in tumor-monitoring and image-guided combined therapy are summarized. Diagnostic NPs contain substances with imaging properties that enhance US contrast and photoacoustic imaging. The development of such high-resolution, low-background US-based imaging methods has contributed to modern precision medicine. It is expected that the integration of non-invasive US and nanotechnology will lead to significant breakthroughs in future clinical applications.

Enhanced Photodynamic Therapy: A Review of Combined Energy Sources

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been used in recent years as a non-invasive treatment for cancer, due to the side effects of traditional treatments such as surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. This therapeutic technique requires a photosensitizer, light energy, and oxygen to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) which mediate cellular toxicity. PDT is a useful non-invasive therapy for cancer treatment, but it has some limitations that need to be overcome, such as low-light-penetration depths, non-targeting photosensitizers, and tumor hypoxia. This review focuses on the latest innovative strategies based on the synergistic use of other energy sources, such as non-visible radiation of the electromagnetic spectrum (microwaves, infrared, and X-rays), ultrasound, and electric/magnetic fields, to overcome PDT limitations and enhance the therapeutic effect of PDT. The main principles, mechanisms, and crucial elements of PDT are also addressed.

Synthesis of axially Schiff base new substituted silicon phthalocyanines and investigation of photochemical and sono-photochemical properties

Sono-photodynamic therapy, which show a very high therapeutic effect compared to photodynamic therapy, is a newer method for anticancer treatments. However, unlike Photodynamic therapy (PDT), the number of studies measuring the efficiency of singlet oxygen for the Sono-photodynamic therapy (SPDT) method is quite insufficient in the literature. Therefore, this study aimed to synthesis novel axially substituted silicon (IV) phthalocyanines containing imine groups with improved photochemical properties and then reported the efficiency of singlet oxygen by both of photochemical and sono-photochemical studies. According to the results, the substituent group increased the singlet oxygen yield of silicon (IV) phthalocyanine dichloride and the sono-photochemical effect increased the singlet oxygen yields (Φ_Δ=0.35 for 2a, 0.69 for 2b in photochemical study, 0.78 for 2a, 0.97 for 2b in sono-photochemical study).This article may pave the way to achieve high singlet oxygen efficiency.

Nanoparticle-Assisted Sonosensitizers and Their Biomedical Applications

As a non-invasive strategy, sonodynamic therapy (SDT) which utilizes sonosensitizers to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) has received significant interest over recent years due to its ability to break depth barrier. However, intrinsic limitations of traditional sonosensitizers hinder the widespread application of SDT. With the development of nanotechnology, various nanoparticles (NPs) have been designed and used to assist sonosensitizers for SDT. This review first summarizes the possible mechanisms of SDT, then classifies the NPs-assisted sonosensitizers and discusses their biomedical applications in ultrasonography, drug delivery, high intensity focused ultrasound and SDT-based combination treatment. Finally, some challenges and future perspectives of NPs-assisted SDT has also been discussed.

Pheophorbide a-mediated sonodynamic, photodynamic and sonophotodynamic therapies against prostate cancer

Anticancer efficiencies and mechanisms of Pheophorbide-a-mediated photodynamic, sonodynamic and sonophotodynamic therapies were investigated in vitro using androgen-sensitive (LNCaP) and androgen insensitive (PC3) prostate cancer cell lines. The cells were incubated in RPMI-1640 media at various concentrations of Pheophorbide-a. The media was treated with 0.5 W/cm² ultrasound and/or 0.5 mJ/cm² light irradiation. Cell proliferation in both cell lines was inhibited most effectively by sonophotodynamic therapy in comparison to that of both monotherapies. LNCaP cells were more sensitive to the applied treatments and the cell survival in LNCaP cell line was observed to be less than that of PC3 cell line. The results of histochemical analysis showed that there were more apoptotic cells in the treatment groups in comparison to control group. Additionally, the treatments induced apoptosis deduced by the overexpressed levels of caspase-3, caspase-8, PARP, and Bax proteins, while the expression levels of caspase-9 and Bcl-2 proteins were observed to be lower than those of control group. Treatments led to an increase in the oxidative stress markers, ROS and MDA, but a decrease in the activities of antioxidant enzymes, SOD, CAT and GSH. The results of this study revealed that Pheophorbide a-mediated sonophotodynamic therapy more efficiently activates the apoptotic mechanisms in prostate cancer cells and thus may provide a promising approach for treatment.

Utility of Photodynamic Therapy in Dentistry: Current Concepts

The significant growth in scientific and technological advancements within the field of dentistry has resulted in a wide range of novel treatment modalities for dentists to use. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an emerging, non-invasive treatment method, involving photosensitizers, light of a specific wavelength and the generation of singlet oxygen and reactive oxygen species (ROS) to eliminate unwanted eukaryotic cells (e.g., malignancies in the oral cavity) or pathogenic microorganisms. The aim of this review article is to summarize the history, general concepts, advantages and disadvantages of PDT and to provide examples for current indications of PDT in various subspecialties of dentistry (oral and maxillofacial surgery, oral medicine, endodontics, preventive dentistry, periodontology and implantology), in addition to presenting some images from our own experiences about the clinical success with PDT.

Photo- and Sono-Dynamic Therapy: A Review of Mechanisms and Considerations for Pharmacological Agents Used in Therapy Incorporating Light and Sound

As irreplaceable energy sources of minimally invasive treatment, light and sound have, separately, laid solid foundations in their clinic applications. Constrained by the relatively shallow penetration depth of light, photodynamic therapy (PDT) typically involves involves superficial targets such as shallow seated skin conditions, head and neck cancers, eye disorders, early-stage cancer of esophagus, etc. For ultrasound-driven sonodynamic therapy (SDT), however, to various organs is facilitated by the superior... transmission and focusing ability of ultrasound in biological tissues, enabling multiple therapeutic applications including treating glioma, breast cancer, hematologic tumor and opening blood-brain-barrier (BBB). Considering the emergence of theranostics and precision therapy, these two classic energy sources and corresponding sensitizers are worth reevaluating. In this review, three typical therapies using light and sound as a trigger, PDT, SDT, and combined PDT and SDT are introduced. The therapeutic dynamics and current designs of pharmacological sensitizers involved in these therapies are presented. By introducing both the history of the field and the most up-to-date design strategies, this review provides a systemic summary on the development of PDT and SDT and fosters inspiration for researchers working on 'multi-modal' therapies involving light and sound.

Multifunctional sonosensitizers in sonodynamic cancer therapy

Phototherapy, including photodynamic therapy and photothermal therapy, has the potential to treat several types of cancer.

Sono and photo stimulated Chlorine E6 nanocomposite in tumor-bearing mice: upcoming cancer treatment

This study was directed at study the effectiveness of cancer targeted therapy using the activated Chlorine E6 nanocomposite (Nano-CE6). Study was applied on male Swiss albino mice, implanted with Ehrlich tumor (EAC) divided into six groups. Two energy sources were used; laser and Ultrasound. Results showed that Nano-CE6 is a potential sensitizer for photodynamic or sonodynamic treatment of tumor. Nano-CE6 plays an important role in tumor growth inhibition and cell death induction. Activated Nano-CE6 with both infrared laser and ultrasound has a potential antitumor effect. The results indicated that (FA–NGO–CE6) could be used as a unique nanocomposite for cancer targeted therapy SPDT.

Application of Biodegradable and Biocompatible Nanocomposites in Electronics: Current Status and Future Directions

With the continuous increase in the production of electronic devices, large amounts of electronic waste (E-waste) are routinely being discarded into the environment. This causes serious environmental and ecological problems because of the non-degradable polymers, released hazardous chemicals, and toxic heavy metals. The appearance of biodegradable polymers, which can be degraded or dissolved into the surrounding environment with no pollution, is promising for effectively relieving the environmental burden. Additionally, biodegradable polymers are usually biocompatible, which enables electronics to be used in implantable biomedical applications. However, for some specific application requirements, such as flexibility, electric conductivity, dielectric property, gas and water vapor barrier, most biodegradable polymers are inadequate. Recent research has focused on the preparation of nanocomposites by incorporating nanofillers into biopolymers, so as to endow them with functional characteristics, while simultaneously maintaining effective biodegradability and biocompatibility. As such, bionanocomposites have broad application prospects in electronic devices. In this paper, emergent biodegradable and biocompatible polymers used as insulators or (semi)conductors are first reviewed, followed by biodegradable and biocompatible nanocomposites applied in electronics as substrates, (semi)conductors and dielectrics, as well as electronic packaging, which is highlighted with specific examples. To finish, future directions of the biodegradable and biocompatible nanocomposites, as well as the challenges, that must be overcome are discussed.