Folic acid-conjugated Silica-modified gold nanorods for X-ray/CT imaging-guided dual-mode radiation and photo-thermal therapy

Mapping the intellectual structure and emerging trends for the application of nanomaterials in gastric cancer: A bibliometric study

BACKGROUND

Recent reviews have outlined the main nanomaterials used in relation to gastrointestinal tumors and described the basic properties of these materials. However, the research hotspots and trends in the application of nanomaterials in gastric cancer (GC) remain obscure.

AIM

To demonstrate the knowledge structure and evolutionary trends of research into the application of nanomaterials in GC.

METHODS

Publications related to the application of nanomaterials in GC were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection for this systematic review and bibliometric study. VOSviewer and CiteSpace were used for bibliometric and visualization analyses.

RESULTS

From 2000 to 2022, the application of nanomaterials in GC developed rapidly. The keyword co-occurrence analysis showed that the related research topics were divided into three clusters: (1) The application of nanomaterials in GC treatment; (2) The application and toxicity of nanomaterials in GC diagnosis; and (3) The effects of nanomaterials on the biological behavior of GC cells. Complexes, silver nanoparticles, and green synthesis are the latest high-frequency keywords that represent promising future research directions.

CONCLUSION

The application of nanomaterials in GC diagnosis and treatment and the mechanisms of their effects on GC cells have been major themes in this field over the past 23 years.

Progress of Mesoporous Silica Coated Gold Nanorods for Biological Imaging and Cancer Therapy

For unique surface plasmon absorption and fluorescence characteristics, gold nanorods have been developed and widely employed in the biomedical field. However, limitations still exist due their low specific surface area, instability and tendency agglomerate in cytoplasm. Mesoporous silica materials have been broadly applied in field of catalysts, adsorbents, nanoreactors, and drug carriers due to its unique mesoporous structure, highly comparative surface area, good stability and biocompatibility. Therefore, coating gold nanorods with a dendritic mesopore channels can effectively prevent particle agglomeration, while increasing the specific surface area and drug loading efficiency. This review discusses the advancements of GNR@MSN in synthetic process, bio-imaging technique and tumor therapy. Additionally, the further application of GNR@MSN in imaging-guided treatment modalities is explored, while its promising superior application prospect is highlighted. Finally, the issues related to in vivo studies are critically examined for facilitating the transition of this promising nanoplatform into clinical trials.

Exploring the current landscape of chitosan-based hybrid nanoplatforms as cancer theragnostic

In the last decade, investigators have put significant efforts to develop several diagnostic and therapeutic strategies against cancer. Many novel nanoplatforms, including lipidic, metallic, and inorganic nanocarriers, have shown massive potential at preclinical and clinical stages for cancer diagnosis and treatment. Each of these nano-systems is distinct with its own benefits and limitations. The need to overcome the limitations of single-component nano-systems, improve their morphological and biological features, and achieve multiple functionalities has resulted in the emergence of hybrid nanoparticles (HNPs). These HNPs integrate multicomponent nano-systems with diagnostic and therapeutic functions into a single nano-system serving as promising nanotools for cancer theragnostic applications. Chitosan (CS) being a mucoadhesive, biodegradable, and biocompatible biopolymer, has emerged as an essential element for the development of HNPs offering several advantages over conventional nanoparticles including pH-dependent drug delivery, sustained drug release, and enhanced nanoparticle stability. In addition, the free protonable amino groups in the CS backbone offer flexibility to its structure, making it easy for the modification and functionalization of CS, resulting in better drug targetability and cell uptake. This review discusses in detail the existing different oncology-directed CS-based HNPs including their morphological characteristics, in-vitro/in-vivo outcomes, toxicity concerns, hurdles in clinical translation, and future prospects.

Silicon-containing nanomedicine and biomaterials: materials chemistry, multi-dimensional design, and biomedical application

The invention of silica-based bioactive glass in the late 1960s has sparked significant interest in exploring a wide range of silicon-containing biomaterials from the macroscale to the nanoscale. Over the past few decades, these biomaterials have been extensively explored for their potential in diverse biomedical applications, considering their remarkable bioactivity, excellent biocompatibility, facile surface functionalization, controllable synthesis, etc. However, to expedite the clinical translation and the unexpected utilization of silicon-composed nanomedicine and biomaterials, it is highly desirable to achieve a thorough comprehension of their characteristics and biological effects from an overall perspective. In this review, we provide a comprehensive discussion on the state-of-the-art progress of silicon-composed biomaterials, including their classification, characteristics, fabrication methods, and versatile biomedical applications. Additionally, we highlight the multi-dimensional design of both pure and hybrid silicon-composed nanomedicine and biomaterials and their intrinsic biological effects and interactions with biological systems. Their extensive biomedical applications span from drug delivery and bioimaging to therapeutic interventions and regenerative medicine, showcasing the significance of their rational design and fabrication to meet specific requirements and optimize their theranostic performance. Additionally, we offer insights into the future prospects and potential challenges regarding silicon-composed nanomedicine and biomaterials. By shedding light on these exciting research advances, we aspire to foster further progress in the biomedical field and drive the development of innovative silicon-composed nanomedicine and biomaterials with transformative applications in biomedicine.

Metal nanoparticles as a potential technique for the diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal cancer: a comprehensive review

Gastrointestinal (GI) cancer is a major health problem worldwide, and current diagnostic and therapeutic approaches are often inadequate. Various metallic nanoparticles (MNPs) have been widely studied for several biomedical applications, including cancer. They may potentially overcome the challenges associated with conventional chemotherapy and significantly impact the overall survival of GI cancer patients. Functionalized MNPs with targeted ligands provide more efficient localization of tumor energy deposition, better solubility and stability, and specific targeting properties. In addition to enhanced therapeutic efficacy, MNPs are also a diagnostic tool for molecular imaging of malignant lesions, enabling non-invasive imaging or detection of tumor-specific or tumor-associated antigens. MNP-based therapeutic systems enable simultaneous stability and solubility of encapsulated drugs and regulate the delivery of therapeutic agents directly to tumor cells, which improves therapeutic efficacy and minimizes drug toxicity and leakage into normal cells. However, metal nanoparticles have been shown to have a cytotoxic effect on cells in vitro. This can be a concern when using metal nanoparticles for cancer treatment, as they may also kill healthy cells in addition to cancer cells. In this review, we provide an overview of the current state of the field, including preparation methods of MNPs, clinical applications, and advances in their use in targeted GI cancer therapy, as well as the advantages and limitations of using metal nanoparticles for the diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal cancer such as potential toxicity. We also discuss potential future directions and areas for further research, including the development of novel MNP-based approaches and the optimization of existing approaches.

Heavy Metal-Based Nanoparticles as High-Performance X-ray Computed Tomography Contrast Agents

X-ray computed tomography (CT) contrast agents offer extremely valuable tools and techniques in diagnostics via contrast enhancements. Heavy metal-based nanoparticles (NPs) can provide high contrast in CT images due to the high density of heavy metal atoms with high X-ray attenuation coefficients that exceed that of iodine (I), which is currently used in hydrophilic organic CT contrast agents. Nontoxicity and colloidal stability are vital characteristics in designing heavy metal-based NPs as CT contrast agents. In addition, a small particle size is desirable for in vivo renal excretion. In vitro phantom imaging studies have been performed to obtain X-ray attenuation efficiency, which is a critical parameter for CT contrast agents, and the imaging performance of CT contrast agents has been demonstrated via in vivo experiments. In this review, we focus on the in vitro and in vivo studies of various heavy metal-based NPs in pure metallic or chemical forms, including Au, Pt, Pd, Ag, Ce, Gd, Dy, Ho, Yb, Ta, W, and Bi, and provide an outlook on their use as high-performance CT contrast agents.

Effective Distribution of Gold Nanorods in Ordered Thick Mesoporous Silica: A Choice of Noninvasive Theranostics

Porous silica coated gold nanorod core-shell structures demonstrate a multifunctional role in bioimaging, drug delivery, and cancer therapeutics applications. Here, we address a new approach for effective distribution of gold nanorods (GNRs) in a mesoporous silica (MS) shell, viz., one nanorod in one silica particle (GMS). We have studied that silica coating presents major advantages for the better biocompatibility and stability of GNRs. In this study, two different thicknesses of silica shell over GNRs have been discussed as per the application's need; GNRs in thin silica (11 nm) are fit for phototherapy and bioimaging, whereas thick and porous silica (51 nm) coated gold nanorods are suitable for triggered drug delivery and theranostics. However, effective distribution of GNRs in ordered architecture of thick mesoporous silica (MS, more than 50 nm thickness) with high surface area (more than 1000 m2/g) is not well understood so far. Here, we present methodical investigations for uniform and highly ordered mesoporous silica coating over GNRs with tunable thickness (6 to 51 nm). Judicious identification and optimization of different reaction parameters like concentrations of silica precursor (TEOS, 1.85-43.9 mM), template (CTAB, 0.9-5.7 mM), effect of temperature, pH (8.6-10.8), stirring speed (100-400 rpm), and, most importantly, the mode of addition of TEOS with GNRs have been discussed. Studies with thick, porous silica coated GNRs simplify the highest ever reported surface area (1100 m2/g) and cargo capacity (57%) with better product yield (g/batch). First and foremost, we report a highly scalable (more than 500 mL) and rapid direct deposition of an ordered MS shell around GNRs. These engineered core-shell nanoparticles demonstrate X-ray contrast property, synergistic photothermal-chemotherapeutics, and imaging of tumor cell (96% cell death) due to released fluorescent anticancer drug molecules and photothermal effect (52 °C) of embedded GNRs. A deeper insight into their influence on the architectural features and superior theranostics performances has been illustrated in detail. Hence, these findings indicate the potential impact of individual GMS for image guided combination therapeutics of cancer.

Research trends on nanomaterials in gastric cancer: a bibliometric analysis from 2004 to 2023

BACKGROUND

Gastric cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. In recent years, an increasing number of studies aimed at designing and developing nanomaterials for use in diagnosing and treating gastric cancer have been conducted. In this study, we aimed to comprehensively assess the current status and trends of the research on the application of nanomaterials in gastric cancer through a bibliometric analysis.

METHODS

Studies focusing on nanomaterials and gastric cancer were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection database and relevant articles were selected for inclusion in the study according to the inclusion criteria. Bibliometric and visual analysis of the included publications was performed using VOSviewer and CiteSpace.

RESULTS

A total of 793 studies were included. An increase in annual publications was observed from 2004 to 2023. China, Iran and the USA were the dominant countries in this field, accounting for 66.1%, 11.5% and 7.2% of publications, respectively. Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Cui DX were the most influential institution and author, respectively. The International Journal of Nanomedicine was the most prolific journal; Biomaterials was the most cited and most cocited journal. Nanomaterial-related drug delivery and anticancer mechanisms were found to be the most widely researched aspects, and green synthesis and anticancer mechanisms are recent research hotspots.

CONCLUSION

In this study, we summarized the characteristics of publications and identified the most influential countries, institutions, authors, journals, hot topics and trends regarding the application of nanomaterials in gastric cancer.

One-Pot Synthesis of Silica-Coated Gold Nanostructures Loaded with Cyanine 5.5 for Cell Imaging by SERS Spectroscopy

Anisotropic gold nanoparticles have been recognized as promising agents for medical diagnostics and cancer therapy due to their wide functionality, photothermal effect, and ability for optical signal amplification in the near-infrared range. In this work, a simple and rapid method for the preparation of bone-shaped gold nanoparticles coated with a dye-impregnated silica shell with an aminated surface is proposed. The possibility of further functionalization the nanostructures with a delivery vector using folic acid as an example is demonstrated. The average size of the resulting tags does not exceed 70 nm, meeting the criteria of cell endocytosis. The prepared tags exhibit surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectra at excitation with lasers of 632.8 and 785 nm. Cell imaging is performed on HeLa cells based on the most pronounced SERS bands as a tracking signal. The obtained images, along with scanning electron microscopy of cell samples, revealed the tendency of tags to agglomerate during endocytosis followed by the "hot spots" effect. To evaluate the toxic and proliferative effect of the nanotags, an MTT assay was performed with two HeLa and HEP G2 cell lines. The results revealed higher viability for HEP G2 cells.

Nanotherapeutic potential of antibacterial folic acid-functionalized nanoceria for wound-healing applications

Aim: The functionalization and characterization of antibacterial nanoceria with folic acid (FA) and elucidation of their in vivo wound healing application. Materials & methods: Functionalization of nanoceria were done with FA using a chemical method and their antibacterial activity, cellular biocompatibility and in vivo wound healing application were evaluated. Results: The functionalization of nanoceria with FA was done with 10 to 20 nm size and -20.1 mV zeta potential. The nanoformulation showed a bacteriostatic effect along with biocompatibility to different cell lines; 0.1% w/v spray of FA-nanoceria demonstrated excellent wound healing capacity within 14 days in a Wister rat model. Conclusion: The antioxidant and reactive oxygen species scavenging activity of the FA-nanoceria make it a promising therapeutic agent as a unique spray formulation in wound healing applications.

18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) Functionalized Gold Nanoparticles (GNPs) for Plasmonic Photothermal Ablation of Cancer: A Review

The meeting and merging between innovative nanotechnological systems, such as nanoparticles, and the persistent need to outperform diagnostic-therapeutic approaches to fighting cancer are revolutionizing the medical research scenario, leading us into the world of nanomedicine. Photothermal therapy (PTT) is a non-invasive thermo-ablative treatment in which cellular hyperthermia is generated through the interaction of near-infrared light with light-to-heat converter entities, such as gold nanoparticles (GNPs). GNPs have great potential to improve recovery time, cure complexity, and time spent on the treatment of specific types of cancer. The development of gold nanostructures for photothermal efficacy and target selectivity ensures effective and deep tissue-penetrating PTT with fewer worries about adverse effects from nonspecific distributions. Regardless of the thriving research recorded in the last decade regarding the multiple biomedical applications of nanoparticles and, in particular, their conjugation with drugs, few works have been completed regarding the possibility of combining GNPs with the cancer-targeted pharmaceutical fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG). This review aims to provide an actual scenario on the application of functionalized GNP-mediated PTT for cancer ablation purposes, regarding the opportunity given by the 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) functionalization.

Collagen-induced assembly of adenosine monophosphate-modified gold nanoparticles for photothermal cancer therapy

Background

Photothermal therapy (PTT) has become an attractive approach for cancer treatment due to its merits of minimal invasiveness, location selectivity, and suitability for various cancer types. In PTT, photosensitizers are usually adopted to convert light to heat at tumor site, thereby generating heat-induced necroptosis or apoptosis. Therefore, the performance of photosensitizer (e.g., photothermal conversion efficiency (PCE), surface property, tumor accumulation and retention, etc.) determines the clinical manifestation of PTT. Currently, the poor tumor retention and potential long-term toxicity are two main obstacles for developing efficient photosensitizers. To address these issues, we have developed an in vivo tumor microenvironment stimuli-responsive self-assembled photosensitizer, which consists of a biomolecule, adenosine monophosphate (AMP) modified gold nanoparticles (AAu NPs), to enhance the accumulation and retention within tumor tissue for efficient PTT.

Results

The obtained AAu NPs with a hydrodynamic diameter of 9.12 ± 0.82 nm have excellent colloidal stability in aqueous solution. No sediments can be observed in the AAu NPs aqueous phase even after several months. The temperature of AAu aqueous suspension is elevated to 53.0 ℃ within 8 min at a low particle concentration of 80 μg/mL. A high PCE of 62.8% is obtained for AAu NPs based on the temperature change curves. The near-infrared (NIR) absorption and PCE of AAu NPs are enhanced compared to the surfactant-free Au NPs, enabling excellent photothermal cell-killing in vitro. When the AAu NPs arrive at the tumor tissue, they quickly form large aggregates via a collagen-induced assembly, leading to enhanced NIR absorption and improved tumor accumulation and retention, which enables a high PTT efficacy in vivo at a low photosensitizer dose of 40 μg and a low laser power density of 1.91 W/cm2.

Conclusions

A collagen-induced self-assembled gold photosensitizer for efficient PTT has been synthesized based on a biomolecule, AMP modification method. The synthesized AAu NPs with high PTT efficacy, superior biosafety and fast excretion from the body is an effective therapeutic agent in photothermal cancer therapy.

Synthesis and optimization of photothermal properties of NIR emitting LiGa5O8: Cr3+ and gold nanorods as hybrid materials for theranostic applications

The increase in incidence of degenerative diseases has fueled the development of novel materials, mostly focused on reducing adverse effects caused by current medical therapies. Theranostic materials represent an alternative to treat degenerative diseases, since they combine diagnostic properties and localized therapy within the same material. This work presents the synthesis and characterization of hybrid materials designed for theranostic purposes. The hybrid materials were composed of LiGa₅O₈:Cr³⁺ (LGO) with emission lines in the near infrared (NIR), hence providing an excellent diagnostic ability. As for the therapy part, the hybrid nanomaterials contained gold nanorods (AuR) with localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR). Once AuR are excited, plasmonic processes are triggered at their surface resulting in increased localized temperature capable of inducing irreversible damage to the cells. A detailed characterization of the hybrid materials confirmed proper assembly of LGO and AuR. Moreover, these nanocomposites preserved their luminescent properties and LSPR. Finally, the cytotoxic potential of the hybrid material was evaluated in different cell lines by cell viability colorimetric assays to determine its possible use as theranostic agent. The success in the synthesis of hybrid materials based on LGO with emission in the NIR coupled with AuR, provides a new perspective for the design of hybrid materials with improved properties to be used in biomedical fields.

Nanotechnology Advances in the Detection and Treatment of Cancer: An Overview

Over the last few years, progress has been made across the nanomedicine landscape, in particular, the invention of contemporary nanostructures for cancer diagnosis and overcoming complexities in the clinical treatment of cancerous tissues. Thanks to their small diameter and large surface-to-volume proportions, nanomaterials have special physicochemical properties that empower them to bind, absorb and transport high-efficiency substances, such as small molecular drugs, DNA, proteins, RNAs, and probes. They also have excellent durability, high carrier potential, the ability to integrate both hydrophobic and hydrophilic compounds, and compatibility with various transport routes, making them especially appealing over a wide range of oncology fields. This is also due to their configurable scale, structure, and surface properties. This review paper discusses how nanostructures can function as therapeutic vectors to enhance the therapeutic value of molecules; how nanomaterials can be used as medicinal products in gene therapy, photodynamics, and thermal treatment; and finally, the application of nanomaterials in the form of molecular imaging agents to diagnose and map tumor growth.

Folic acid-functionalized L-cys/ZnS:O nanoparticles for homologous targeting and photodynamic therapy of tumor cells

The combination of photodynamic therapy (PDT) and fluorescence imaging provides a promising approach to theranostics. However, traditional photosensitizers (PSs) have low water solubility and lack active targeting ability. Our ingenious design used L-cys/ZnS:O (LZS) nanoparticles (NPs) modified with folic acid (FA), allowing them to easily enter tumor cells and accurately gather around the nucleus of cancer cells. L-Cysteine were used as intermediates, ZnS:O quantum dots and FA could be connected by a solid-state method and a coupling reaction. In doing so, the cytotoxicity of LZS NPs was further reduced, while the hydrophilicity and dispersibility were improved. Moreover, the as-synthesized FA@LZS NPs had a higher generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) than commercial Ce6, and they killed HepG2 cells specifically in vitro. These findings give a clear way for the development of advanced PSs with homologous labeling functions. A template for NPs or other fluorophores modified by targeting groups is also provided.

Polymer–Metal Composite Healthcare Materials: From Nano to Device Scale

Metals have been investigated as biomaterials for a wide range of medical applications. At nanoscale, some metals, such as gold nanoparticles, exhibit plasmonics, which have motivated researchers’ focus on biosensor development. At the device level, some metals, such as titanium, exhibit good physical properties, which could allow them to act as biomedical implants for physical support. Despite these attractive features, the non-specific delivery of metallic nanoparticles and poor tissue–device compatibility have greatly limited their performance. This review aims to illustrate the interplay between polymers and metals, and to highlight the pivotal role of polymer–metal composite/nanocomposite healthcare materials in different biomedical applications. Here, we revisit the recent plasmonic engineered platforms for biomolecules detection in cell-free samples and highlight updated nanocomposite design for (1) intracellular RNA detection, (2) photothermal therapy, and (3) nanomedicine for neurodegenerative diseases, as selected significant live cell–interactive biomedical applications. At the device scale, the rational design of polymer–metallic medical devices is of importance for dental and cardiovascular implantation to overcome the poor physical load transfer between tissues and devices, as well as implant compatibility under a dynamic fluidic environment, respectively. Finally, we conclude the treatment of these innovative polymer–metal biomedical composite designs and provide a future perspective on the aforementioned research areas.

The strategy of precise targeting and in situ oxygenating for enhanced triple-negative breast cancer chemophototherapy

The absence of effective therapeutic targets and tumor hypoxia are the main causes of failure in the treatment of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Biomimetic nanotechnology and tumor microenvironment (TME) responsiveness bring hope and opportunity to address this problem. Here, we develop a core membrane nanoplatform (HM/D-I-BL) using hollow mesoporous manganese dioxide (HM) coated with a biomimetic cancer cell membrane for enhanced chemotherapy/phototherapy via the strategy of precise drug delivery and hypoxia amelioration. Cancer cell membrane modification endows HM/D-I-BL with excellent homologous targeting and immune escape performance. Cellular uptake and fluorescence imaging studies confirmed that HM/D-I-BL can be accurately delivered to tumor sites. HM/D-I-BL also features efficient in situ O₂ generation in tumors upon laser irradiation, and subsequently enhanced chemotherapy/phototherapy, pointing to its usefulness as a TME-responsive nanozyme to alleviate tumor hypoxia in the presence of H₂O₂. In addition, HM/D-I-BL showed good fluorescence and magnetic resonance imaging performances, which offers a reliable multimodal image-guided combination tumor therapy for precision theranostics in the future. In general, this intelligent biomimetic nanoplatform with its homotypic tumor targeting, in situ alleviation of tumor hypoxia and synergetic chemophototherapy would open up a new dimension for the precision treatment of TNBC.

Multi-Modal Optical Imaging and Combined Phototherapy of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Based on a Nanoplatform

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a common malignant tumor of the head and neck with a high incidence rate worldwide, especially in southern China. Phototheranostics in combination with nanoparticles is an integrated strategy for enabling simultaneous diagnosis, real-time monitoring, and administration of precision therapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). It has shown great potential in the field of cancer diagnosis and treatment owing to its unique noninvasive advantages. Many Chinese and international research teams have applied nano-targeted drugs to optical diagnosis and treatment technology to conduct multimodal imaging and collaborative treatment of NPC, which has become a hot research topic. In this review, we aimed to introduce the recent developments in phototheranostics of NPC based on a nanoplatform. This study aimed to elaborate on the applications of nanoplatform-based optical imaging strategies and treatment modalities, including fluorescence imaging, photoacoustic imaging, Raman spectroscopy imaging, photodynamic therapy, and photothermal therapy. This study is expected to provide a scientific basis for further research and development of NPC diagnosis and treatment.

Nontoxic In Vivo Clearable Nanoparticle Clusters for Theranostic Applications

Disintegrable inorganic nanoclusters (GIONs) with gold seed (GS) coating of an iron oxide core with a primary nanoparticle size less than 6 nm were prepared for theranostic applications. The GIONs possessed a broad near-infrared (NIR) absorbance at ∼750 nm because of plasmon coupling between closely positioned GSs on the iron oxide nanoclusters (ION) surface, in addition to the ∼513 nm peak corresponding to the isolated GS. The NIR laser-triggered photothermal response of GIONs was found to be concentration-dependent with a temperature rise of ∼8.5 and ∼4.5 °C from physiological temperature for 0.5 and 0.25 mg/mL, respectively. The nanoclusters were nonhemolytic and showed compatibility with human umbilical vein endothelial cells up to a concentration of 0.7 mg/mL under physiological conditions. The nanoclusters completely disintegrated at a lysosomal pH of 5.2 within 1 month. With an acute increase of over 400% intracellular reactive oxygen species soon after γ-irradiation and assistance from Fenton reaction-mediated supplemental oxidative stress, GION treatment in conjunction with radiation killed ∼50% of PLC/PRF/5 hepatoma cells. Confocal microscopy images of these cells showed significant cytoskeletal and nuclear damage from radiosensitization with GIONs. The cell viability further decreased to ∼10% when they were sequentially exposed to the NIR laser followed by γ-irradiation. The magnetic and optical properties of the nanoclusters enabled GIONs to possess a T₂ relaxivity of ∼223 mM^-1 s^-1and a concentration-dependent strong photoacoustic signal toward magnetic resonance and optical imaging. GIONs did not incur any organ damage or evoke an acute inflammatory response in healthy C57BL/6 mice. Elemental analysis of various organs indicated differential clearance of gold and iron via both renal and hepatobiliary routes.

Tumor cell membrane-camouflaged responsive nanoparticles enable MRI-guided immuno-chemodynamic therapy of orthotopic osteosarcoma

Osteosarcoma is a refractory bone disease in young people that needs the updating and development of effective treatment. Although nanotechnology is widely applied in cancer therapy, poor targeting and inadequate efficiency hinder its development. In this study, we prepared alendronate (ALD)/K7M2 cell membranes-coated hollow manganese dioxide (HMnO₂) nanoparticles as a nanocarrier to load Ginsenoside Rh2 (Rh2) for Magnetic Resonance imaging (MRI)-guided immuno-chemodynamic combination osteosarcoma therapy. Subsequently, the ALD and K7M2 cell membranes were successively modified on the surface of HMnO₂ and loaded with Rh2. The tumor microenvironment (TME)-activated Rh2@HMnO₂-AM nanoparticles have good bone tumor-targeting and tumor-homing capabilities, excellent GSH-sensitive drug release profile and MRI capability, and attractive immuno-chemodynamic combined therapeutic efficiency. The Rh2@HMnO₂-AM nanoparticles can effectively trigger immunogenic cell death (ICD), activate CD4⁺/CD8⁺ T cells in vivo, and upregulate BAX, BCL-2 and Caspase-3 in cellular level. Further results revealed that Rh2@HMnO₂-AM enhanced the secretion of IL-6, IFN-γ and TNF-α in serum and inhibited the generation of FOXP3⁺ T cells (Tregs) in tumors. Moreover, the Rh2@HMnO₂-AM treatment significant restricted tumor growth in-situ tumor-bearing mice. Therefore, Rh2@HMnO₂-AM may serve as an effective and bio-friendly nanoparticle platform combined with immunotherapy and chemodynamic therapy to provide a novel approach to osteosarcoma therapy.

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Ginsenoside Rh2 was loaded in Hollow MnO₂ NPs for enhancing its bioavailability.

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The orthotopic tumor model exhibits a convincing therapeutic effect of nanosystems.

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Alendronate/cell membranes enhance osteosarcoma targeting and tumor-homing ability.

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Tumor microenvironment-induced NPs degradation can release immune stimulant and Mn²⁺.

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The NPs had excellent immuno-chemodynamic combination osteosarcoma therapy effect.

The restructure of Au@Ag nanorods for cell imaging with dark-field microscope

The facile and noninjurious image of cells with high resolution and low toxicity is essential since imaging can offer rich and direct information and insights into metabolic activities, clinical diagnosis, drug delivery and cancer therapy. In this contribution, a smart imaging probe was employed as a contrast agent for dark-field cell imaging. Au core/Ag shell nanorods (Au@Ag NRs) that characterized by X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, formed Au@Ag@AgI NRs when exposed to iodine, which greatly enhanced the light scattering of nanorods. Herein, the silver shell acted as the response element for iodine as well as the protective agent for Au core. When conjugated with folate, the nanorods can be used to image human cervical cancer cells (HeLa cells) under a dark-field microscope. Nanorods were demonstrated with excellent tumor cellular uptake ability without obvious cytotoxicity, making them ideal candidates in biosensing and bioimaging applications.

Doxorubicin-loaded graphene oxide nanocomposites in cancer medicine: Stimuli-responsive carriers, co-delivery and suppressing resistance

INTRODUCTION

The application of doxorubicin (DOX) in cancer therapy has been limited due to its drug resistance and poor internalization. Graphene oxide (GO) nanostructures have the capacity for DOX delivery while promoting its cytotoxicity in cancer.

AREAS COVERED

The favorable characteristics of GO nanocomposites, preparation method, and application in cancer therapy are described. Then, DOX resistance in cancer is discussed. The GO-mediated photothermal therapy and DOX delivery for cancer suppression are described. Preparation of stimuli-responsive GO nanocomposites, surface functionalization, hybrid nanoparticles, and theranostic applications are emphasized in DOX chemotherapy.

EXPERT OPINION

Graphene oxide nanoparticle-based photothermal therapy maximizes the anti-cancer activity of DOX against cancer cells. Apart from DOX delivery, GO nanomaterials are capable of loading anti-cancer agents and genetic tools to minimize drug resistance and enhance the cytolytic impact of DOX in cancer eradication. To enhance DOX accumulation in cancer cells, stimuli-responsive (redox-, light-, enzyme- and pH-sensitive) GO nanoparticles have been developed for DOX delivery. Further development of targeted delivery of DOX-loaded GO nanomaterials against cancer cells may be achieved by surface modification of polymers such as polyethylene glycol, hyaluronic acid, and chitosan. Doxorubicin-loaded GO nanoparticles have demonstrated theranostic potential for simultaneous diagnosis and therapy. Hybridization of GO with other nanocarriers such as silica and gold nanoparticles further broadens their potential anti-cancer therapy applications.

Targeting regulated cell death in tumor nanomedicines

Nanomedicines hold great potential in anticancer therapy by modulating the biodistribution of nanomaterials and initiating targeted oxidative stress damage, but they are also limited by the inherent self-protection mechanism and the evolutionary treatment resistance of cancer cells. New emerging explorations of regulated cell death (RCD), including processes related to autophagy, ferroptosis, pyroptosis, and necroptosis, substantially contribute to the augmented therapeutic efficiency of tumors by increasing the sensitivity of cancer cells to apoptosis. Herein, paradigmatic studies of RCD-mediated synergistic tumor nanotherapeutics are introduced, such as regulating autophagy-enhanced photodynamic therapy (PDT), targeting ferroptosis-sensitized sonodynamic therapy (SDT), inducing necroptosis-augmented photothermal therapy (PTT), and initiating pyroptosis-collaborative chemodynamic therapy (CDT), and the coordination mechanisms are discussed in detail. Multiangle analyses addressing the present challenges and upcoming prospects of RCD-based nanomedicines have also been highlighted and prospected for their further strengthening and the broadening of their application scope. It is believed that up-and-coming coadjutant therapeutic methodologies based on RCDs will considerably impact precision nanomedicine for cancer.

Preparation, toxicity reduction and radiation therapy application of gold nanorods

Gold nanorods (GNRs) have a broad application prospect in biomedical fields because of their unique properties and controllable surface modification. The element aurum (Au) with high atomic number (high-Z) render GNRs ideal radiosensitive materials for radiation therapy and computed tomography (CT) imaging. Besides, GNRs have the capability of efficiently converting light energy to heat in the near-infrared (NIR) region for photothermal therapy. Although there are more and more researches on GNRs for radiation therapy, how to improve their biocompatibility and how to efficiently utilize them for radiation therapy should be further studied. This review will focuse on the research progress regarding the preparation and toxicity reduction of GNRs, as well as GNRs-mediated radiation therapy.

Analysis of clonogenic growth in vitro

The clonogenic assay measures the capacity of single cells to form colonies in vitro. It is widely used to identify and quantify self-renewing mammalian cells derived from in vitro cultures as well as from ex vivo tissue preparations of different origins. Varying research questions and the heterogeneous growth requirements of individual cell model systems led to the development of several assay principles and formats that differ with regard to their conceptual setup, 2D or 3D culture conditions, optional cytotoxic treatments and subsequent mathematical analysis. The protocol presented here is based on the initial clonogenic assay protocol as developed by Puck and Marcus more than 60 years ago. It updates and extends the 2006 Nature Protocols article by Franken et al. It discusses different strategies and principles to analyze clonogenic growth in vitro and presents the clonogenic assay in a modular protocol framework enabling a diversity of formats and measures to optimize determination of clonogenic growth parameters. We put particular focus on the phenomenon of cellular cooperation and consideration of how this can affect the mathematical analysis of survival data. This protocol is applicable to any mammalian cell model system from which single-cell suspensions can be prepared and which contains at least a small fraction of cells with self-renewing capacity in vitro. Depending on the cell system used, the entire procedure takes ~2-10 weeks, with a total hands-on time of <20 h per biological replicate.

The dependence of radio-sensitization efficiency on mitochondrial targeting with NaGdF4:Yb,Er nanoparticles

Radio-sensitization is highly desired to reduce side-effect of the harsh dose of radiation therapy (RT), for which nanoparticles with high atomic number elements provide a promising tool. However, insufficient knowledge on utilizing the interaction between nanoparticles and cancerous cells hampers the improvement of therapeutic outcome. We herein employed NaGdF₄:Yb,Er nano-crystals as the sensitizer, and modified them with a tumor targeting agent and a mitochondria targeting moiety, separately and jointly, to achieve varied extent of mitochondrial accumulation. We observed that NaGdF₄:Yb,Er nano-crystal, even unmodified with targeting ligands, is effective for radio-sensitization. Furthermore, the extent of mitochondrial targeting was responsible for sensitization efficiency both in vitro and in vitro. By RNA sequencing technique, the result was ascribed to the reactive oxygen species (ROS) mediated TNF-JNK pathway and cell cycle arrest besides breaking DNA, in contrast to only DNA damage only with those untargeted nanoparticles. Our work indicated that ROS generated by the irradiation can be utilized by activating an alternative apoptotic pathway with mitochondrial targeting nanoparticles, and therefore may suggest an approach for the enhancement of radio-sensitization. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Radiosensitization by nanoparticles could reduce the burden of cancer due to lowering the dose of radiation therapy and reducing side-effect. How to fully utilize the interactions of irradiation-nanoparticles-biotissues remains a challenge for improving the outcome of radiosensitization. In this manuscript, by modifying tumor-targeting and mitochondria-targeting ligands on nanoparticles, separately and jointly, we demonstrated that the radiosensitization efficiency of NaGdF₄:Yb,Er nanoparticle depends on the extent of accumulation near mitochondria. By RNA-seq technique, the RT sensitization with mitochondrial targeting was ascribed to ROS-mediated TNF-JNK pathway and cell cycle arrest, in contrast to only DNA breaks with untargeted nanoparticles. The results suggested a strategy for better utilization of the energy of therapeutic irradiation and demonstrate that subcellular targeting is a potent factor for designing nanoparticulate radiosensitizers.

Advances in micro-CT imaging of small animals

PURPOSE

Micron-scale computed tomography (micro-CT) imaging is a ubiquitous, cost-effective, and non-invasive three-dimensional imaging modality. We review recent developments and applications of micro-CT for preclinical research.

METHODS

Based on a comprehensive review of recent micro-CT literature, we summarize features of state-of-the-art hardware and ongoing challenges and promising research directions in the field.

RESULTS

Representative features of commercially available micro-CT scanners and some new applications for both in vivo and ex vivo imaging are described. New advancements include spectral scanning using dual-energy micro-CT based on energy-integrating detectors or a new generation of photon-counting x-ray detectors (PCDs). Beyond two-material discrimination, PCDs enable quantitative differentiation of intrinsic tissues from one or more extrinsic contrast agents. When these extrinsic contrast agents are incorporated into a nanoparticle platform (e.g. liposomes), novel micro-CT imaging applications are possible such as combined therapy and diagnostic imaging in the field of cancer theranostics. Another major area of research in micro-CT is in x-ray phase contrast (XPC) imaging. XPC imaging opens CT to many new imaging applications because phase changes are more sensitive to density variations in soft tissues than standard absorption imaging. We further review the impact of deep learning on micro-CT. We feature several recent works which have successfully applied deep learning to micro-CT data, and we outline several challenges specific to micro-CT.

CONCLUSIONS

All of these advancements establish micro-CT imaging at the forefront of preclinical research, able to provide anatomical, functional, and even molecular information while serving as a testbench for translational research.

Imaging cancer cells with nanostructures: Prospects of nanotechnology driven non-invasive cancer diagnosis

The application of nanostructured materials in medicine is a rapidly evolving area of research that includes both the diagnosis and treatment of various diseases. Metals, metal oxides and carbon-based nanomaterials have shown much promise in medical technological advancements due to their tunable physical, chemical and biological properties. The nanoscale properties, especially the size, shape, surface chemistry and stability makes them highly desirable for diagnosing and treating various diseases, including cancers. Major applications of nanomaterials in cancer diagnosis include in vivo bioimaging and molecular marker detection, mainly as image contrast agents using modalities such as radio, magnetic resonance, and ultrasound imaging. When a suitable targeting ligand is attached on the nanomaterial surface, it can help pinpoint the disease site during imaging. The application of nanostructured materials in cancer diagnosis can help in the early detection, treatment and patient follow-up . This review aims to gather and present the information regarding the application of nanotechnology in cancer diagnosis. We also discuss the challenges and prospects regarding the application of nanomaterials as cancer diagnostic tools.

Synthesis of gold nanorods and their performance in the field of cancer cell imaging and photothermal therapy

Cancer is one of the most common incident in the world, with malignant tumors having a death rate of up to 19%. A new method of treating cancer cells effectively with minimal cytotoxicity is needed. In the field of biomedicine with unique shape-dependent optical properties, gold nanorods (GNRs) have attracted worldwide interest. These nanorods have two distinct plasmon bands. One is transverse plasmon band in the area of visible light, and the other is longitudinal band of plasmons in near infrared region. These specific characters provide promise for the design of new optically active reagents that simultaneously perform light-mediated imaging and photothermal cancer treatment. We begin our review by summarizing the latest developments in gold nanorods synthesis with a focus on seed-mediated growth method. Nanorods spontaneous self-assembly, polymer-based alignment and its applications as a novel agent for simultaneous bioimaging and photothermal cancer therapy are listed in particular.

Overcoming chemotherapy resistance using pH-sensitive hollow MnO2 nanoshells that target the hypoxic tumor microenvironment of metastasized oral squamous cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Smart nanoscale drug delivery systems that target acidic tumor microenvironments (TME) could offer controlled release of drugs and modulate the hypoxic TME to enhance cancer therapy. The majority of previously reported MnO₂ nanostructures are nanoparticles, nanosheets, or nanocomposites incorporated with other types of nanoparticles, which may not offer the most effective method for drug loading or for the controlled release of therapeutic payloads. Previous studies have designed MnO₂ nanoshells that achieve tumor-specific and enhanced combination therapy for localized advanced cancer. However, the therapeutic effect of MnO₂ nanoshells on metastatic cancer is still uncertain.

RESULT

Here, intelligent "theranostic" platforms were synthesized based on hollow mesoporous MnO₂ (H-MnO₂) nanoshells that were loaded with chemotherapy agents docetaxel and cisplatin (TP) to form H-MnO₂-PEG/TP nanoshells, which were designed to alleviate tumor hypoxia, attenuate angiogenesis, trigger the dissolution of Mn²⁺, and synergize the efficacy of first-class anticancer chemotherapy. The obtained H-MnO₂-PEG/TP nanoshells decomposed in the acidic TME, releasing the loaded drugs (TP) and simultaneously attenuated tumor hypoxia and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) expression by inducing endogenous tumor hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) decomposition. In vitro experiments showed that compared with the control group, the proliferation, colony formation and migration ability of CAL27 and SCC7 cells were significantly reduced in H-MnO₂-PEG/TP group, while cell apoptosis was enhanced, and the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α(HIF-1α) was down-regulated. In vivo experiments showed that tumor to normal organ uptake ratio (T/N ratio) of mice in H-MnO₂-PEG/TP group was significantly higher than that in TP group alone (without the nanoparticle), and tumor growth was partially delayed. In the H-MnO₂-PEG/TP treatment group, HE staining showed that most of the tumor cells were severely damaged, and TUNEL assay showed cell apoptosis was up-regulated. He staining of renal and liver sections showed no obvious fibrosis, necrosis or hypertrophy, indicating good biosafety. Fluorescence staining showed that HIF-1α expression was decreased, suggesting that the accumulation of MnO₂ in the tumor caused the decomposition of H₂O₂ into O₂ and alleviated the hypoxia of the tumor.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, a remarkable in vivo and in vitro synergistic therapeutic effect is achieved through the combination of TP chemotherapy, which simultaneously triggered a series of antiangiogenic and oxidative antitumor reactions.

Versatile fluorinated Pd@Au nanoplates doped with yttrium for tumor theranostics

As one of the emerging modalities of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), 19F MRI is highly conducive for the specific detection and imaging of deep-seated tumors, with negligible background. However, most 19F MRI probe designs are constructed with organic CF3, which contains rich fluorine atoms, and few of the fluorine-containing groups are equipped with therapeutic function. Herein, we designed a versatile 19F MRI-based theranostic nanoplatform, FY-Pd@Au nano-metallacages (FY-Pd@Au NCs), which not only serve as a 19F MRI/CT/PAI contrast agent, but also produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) by type I photodynamic therapy (PDT) pathway, as well as heat for photothermal therapy (PTT), under the single NIR laser irradiation. Overall, this work successfully built a theranostics nanoplatform based on 19F MRI.

Recent Development of Gold Nanoparticles as Contrast Agents for Cancer Diagnosis

Simple Summary

The development of nanotechnology has brought revolution to the diagnosis and therapy of diseases, with a high precision and efficacy. Because nanoparticles can integrate multifunctions together including imaging, targeting, and therapeutics, they are more efficient than the standalone diagnostic or therapeutic entities. Among which, gold nanoparticles are most extensively investigated due to their excellent biocompatibility, versatility and ease of functionalization. Excepting the using of gold nanoparticles as vehicles for therapeutics delivery, they are also good candidates as contrast agents for imaging diagnosis, from magnetic resonance imaging, CT and nuclear imaging, fluorescence imaging, photoacoustic imaging to X-ray fluorescence imaging. We summarize their recent applications in these imaging modalities and challenges for their clinical translation.

Abstract

The last decade has witnessed the booming of preclinical studies of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) in biomedical applications, from therapeutics delivery, imaging diagnostics, to cancer therapies. The synthetic versatility, unique optical and electronic properties, and ease of functionalization make AuNPs an excellent platform for cancer theranostics. This review summarizes the development of AuNPs as contrast agents to image cancers. First, we briefly describe the AuNP synthesis, their physical characteristics, surface functionalization and related biomedical uses. Then we focus on the performances of AuNPs as contrast agents to diagnose cancers, from magnetic resonance imaging, CT and nuclear imaging, fluorescence imaging, photoacoustic imaging to X-ray fluorescence imaging. We compare these imaging modalities and highlight the roles of AuNPs as contrast agents in cancer diagnosis accordingly, and address the challenges for their clinical translation.

Cytokine-induced killer cells-assisted tumor-targeting delivery of Her-2 monoclonal antibody-conjugated gold nanostars with NIR photosensitizer for enhanced therapy of cancer

Maximizing the accumulation of anticancer medicine in the tumor is the priority to achieve minimal invasive cancer therapy, which raises high demands on tumor-targeting ability of drug delivery systems. Herein, we adopted an emerging "cell-drug" strategy via the nanoplatform construction to achieve high aggregation and intratumoral distribution. We fabricated gold nanostars (GNSs) with HER-2 monoclonal antibody (trastuzumab) and near-infrared region (NIR) photosensitizer indocyanine green (ICG) to obtain GNS@ICG-Ab, which combined the photothermal therapy with photodynamic therapy (PTT/PDT) that rely on enhanced photothermal conversion efficiency of GNS and 1O2 generator ICG under the exposure of a NIR laser. Tumor-tropism CIK cells loaded with GNS@ICG-Ab were able to migrate into tumors and make a difference in efficient accumulation and uniform distribution of the GNS@ICG-Ab-CIK nanoplatform inside tumors based on fluorescence, photoacoustic (PA), and computed tomography (CT) imaging observations. Encouraged by the improvements in tumor targeting and retention presented by real-time imaging, we employed the novel nanoplatform to synergistically inhibit the progression of tumors in SK-BR-3 tumor-bearing mice via PTT/PDT and immunotherapy-implemented by CIK cells for activating the immune response, and with the specific linkage between trastuzumab and SK-BR-3 tumor cells, our platform could exert a precise strike of PDT/PTT. Taken together, the integrating tri-modal imaging with tri-modal therapy endows CIK-GNS@ICG-Ab with promising potential in cancer theranostics and lays a solid foundation for the development of immune cell application in nanomedicine delivery.

A novel strategy for tumor therapy: targeted, PAA-functionalized nano-hydroxyapatite nanomedicine

The rapid development of nanotechnology has provided new strategies for the treatment of tumors. Nano-scale hydroxyapatite (HAP), as the main component of hard tissues in humans and vertebrates, have been found to specifically inhibit tumor cells. However, achieving controllable synthesis of HAP and endowing it with cancer cell-targeting properties remain enormous challenges. To solve this problem, we developed polyacrylic acid-coordinated hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (HAP-PAA) and further chemically grafted them with folic acid (HAP-PAA-FA) for cancer treatment in this study. The nucleation sites and steric hindrance provided by the PAA greatly inhibited the agglomeration of the nanoparticles, and at the same time, the excess functional groups further modified the surface of nanoparticles to achieve targeting efficiency. The spherical, low-crystallinity HAP-PAA nanoparticles exhibited good tumor cell lethality. After grafting the nanoparticles with folic acid for molecular targeting, their cellular uptake and specific killing ability of tumor cells were further enhanced. The HAP-PAA-FA nanoparticle system exerted a regulatory effect on the tumor microenvironment and had good biological safety. All the above results indicate that this research will broaden the application of hydroxyapatite in tumor treatment.

Nano-Neurotheranostics: Impact of Nanoparticles on Neural Dysfunctions and Strategies to Reduce Toxicity for Improved Efficacy

Nanotheranostics is one of the emerging research areas in the field of nanobiotechnology offering exciting promises for diagnosis, bio-separation, imaging mechanisms, hyperthermia, phototherapy, chemotherapy, drug delivery, gene delivery, among other uses. The major criteria for any nanotheranostic-materials is 1) to interact with proteins and cells without meddling with their basic activities, 2) to maintain their physical properties after surface modifications and 3) must be nontoxic. One of the challenging targets for nanotheranostics is the nervous system with major hindrances from the neurovascular units, the functional units of blood-brain barrier. As blood-brain barrier is crucial for protecting the CNS from toxins and metabolic fluctuations, most of the synthetic nanomaterials cannot pass through this barrier making it difficult for diagnosing or targeting the cells. Biodegradable nanoparticles show a promising role in this aspect. Certain neural pathologies have compromised barrier creating a path for most of the nanoparticles to enter into the cells. However, such carriers may pose a risk of side effects to non-neural tissues and their toxicity needs to be elucidated at preclinical levels. This article reviews about the different types of nanotheranostic strategies applied in nervous dysfunctions. Further, the side effects of these carriers are reviewed and appropriate methods to test the toxicity of such nano-carriers are suggested to improve the effectiveness of nano-carrier based diagnosis and treatments.

High contrast ultrasonic method with multi-spatiotemporal compounding for monitoring catheter-based ultrasound thermal therapy: Development and Ex Vivo Evaluations

OBJECTIVE

Changes in ultrasound backscatter energy (CBE) imaging can monitor thermal therapy. Catheter-based ultrasound (CBUS) can treat deep tumors with precise spatial control of energy deposition and ablation zones, of which CBE estimation can be limited by low contrast and robustness due to small or inconsistent changes in ultrasound data. This study develops a multi-spatiotemporal compounding CBE (MST-CBE) imaging approach for monitoring specific to CBUS thermal therapy.

METHODS

Ex vivo thermal ablations were performed with stereotactic positioning of a 180 directional CBUS applicator, temperature monitoring probes, endorectal US probe, and subsequent lesion sectioning and measurement. Five frames of raw radiofrequency data were acquired throughout in 15s intervals. Using window-by-window estimation methods, absolute and positive components of MST-CBE images at each point were obtained by the compounding ratio of squared envelope data within an increasing spatial size in each short-time window.

RESULTS

Compared with conventional US, Nakagami, and CBE imaging, the detection contrast and robustness quantified by tissue-modification-ratio improved by 37.24.7 (p<0.001), 37.55.2 (p<0.001), and 6.44.0 dB (p<0.05) in the MST-CBE imaging, respectively. Correlation coefficient and bias between cross-sectional dimensions of the ablation zones measured in tissue sections and estimated from MST-CBE were up to 0.91 (p<0.001) and -0.02 mm2, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The MST-CBE approach can monitor the detailed changes within target tissues and effectively characterize the dimensions of the ablation zone during CBUS energy deposition.

SIGNIFICANCE

The MST-CBE approach could be practical for improved accuracy and contrast of monitoring and evaluation for CBUS thermal therapy.

"Sweet tooth"-oriented SN38 prodrug delivery nanoplatform for targeted gastric cancer therapy

Most cancer cells employ overexpression of glucose transports (GLUTs) to satisfy glucose demand ("Sweet Tooth") for increased aerobic glycolysis rates. GLUT1, one of the most widely expressed GLUTs in numerous cancers, was identified as a prognosis-related biomarker of gastric cancer via tissue array analysis. Herein, a "Sweet Tooth"-oriented SN38 prodrug delivery nanoplatform (Glu-SNP) was developed for targeted gastric cancer therapy. For this purpose, a SN38-derived prodrug (PLA-SN38) was synthesized by tethering 7-ethyl-10-hydroxycamptothecin (SN38) to biocompatible polylactic acid (PLA) with the appropriate degree of polymerization (n = 44). The PLA-SN38 conjugate was further assembled with glycosylated amphiphilic lipid to obtain glucosamine-decorated nanoparticles (Glu-SNP). Glu-SNP exhibited potent antitumor efficiency both in vitro and in vivo through enhanced cancer cell-specific targeting associated with the overexpression of GLUT1, which provides a promising approach for gastric cancer therapy.

Strategies for the functionalisation of gold nanorods to reduce toxicity and aid clinical translation

Gold nanorods (GNRs) show great promise as photothermal therapy agents due to their remarkable ability to convert light into heat. In most cases, gold nanorods are synthesised via a seed-mediated method assisted by surfactants. However, the toxicity of these surfactants, principally cetrimonium ions, has prevented GNRs from being used more widely in vivo. To address this issue, various detoxification and functionalisation approaches have been proposed in recent years to replace or cover surfactant coatings on the gold surface. In this short review, the advantages and limitations of each approach are examined in the context of the recent progress made towards the design of GNRs suitable for use in the body.

Defective transition metal hydroxide-based nanoagents with hypoxia relief for photothermal-enhanced photodynamic therapy

Recently, phototherapy has attracted much attention due to its negligible invasiveness, insignificant toxicity and excellent applicability. The construction of a newly proposed nanosystem with synergistic photothermal and photodynamic tumor-eliminating properties requires a delicate structure design. In this work, a novel therapeutic nanoplatform (denoted as BCS-Ce6) based on defective cobalt hydroxide nanosheets was developed, which realized hypoxia-relieved photothermal-enhanced photodynamic therapy against cancer. Defective cobalt hydroxide exhibited high photothermal conversion efficacy at the near-infrared region (49.49% at 808 nm) as well as enhanced catalase-like activity to produce oxygen and greatly boost the singlet oxygen generation by a photosensitizer, Ce6, realizing efficacious dual-modal phototherapy. In vivo and in vitro experiments revealed that BCS-Ce6 can almost completely extinguish implanted tumors in a mouse model and present satisfactory biocompatibility during the treatment. This work sets a new angle of preparing photothermal agents and constructing comprehensive therapeutic nanosystems with the ability to modulate the hypoxic tumor microenvironment for efficient cancer therapy.

A novel surface-enhanced Raman scattering probe based on Au nanoboxes for dynamic monitoring of caspase-3 during cervical cancer cell apoptosis

The highly sensitive and reliable detection, imaging, and monitoring of changes of intracellular caspase-3 are critical for understanding the cell apoptosis and studying the progression of caspase-3-related cervical cancer.

Integrating Nanotherapeutic Platforms to Image Guided Approaches for Management of Cancer

Cancer is a leading cause of mortality worldwide, accounting for 8.8 million deaths in 2015. The landscape of cancer therapeutics is rapidly advancing with development of new and sophisticated approaches to diagnostic testing. Treatment plan for early diagnosed patients include radiation therapy, tumor ablation, surgery, immunotherapy and chemotherapy. However the treatment can only be initiated when the cancer has been diagnosed thoroughly. Theranostics is a term that combines diagnostics with therapeutics. It embraces multiple techniques to arrive at comprehensive diagnosis, molecular images and an individualized treatment regimen. Recently, there is an effort to tangle the emerging approach with nanotechnologies, in an attempt to develop theranostic nanoplatforms and methodologies. Theranostic approach to management of cancer offers numerous advantages. They are designed to monitor cancer treatment in real time. A wide variety of theranostic nanoplatforms that are based on diverse nanostructures like magnetic nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes, gold nanomaterials, polymeric nanoparticles and silica nanoparticles showed great potential as cancer theranostics. Nano therapeutic platforms have been successful in integrating image guidance with targeted approach to treat cancer.

A polyoxyethylene sorbitan oleate modified hollow gold nanoparticle system to escape macrophage phagocytosis designed for triple combination lung cancer therapy via LDL-R mediated endocytosis

Presently, a combination of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, thermotherapy, and other treatments has become a hot topic of research for the treatment of cancer, especially lung cancer. In this study, novel hollow gold nanoparticles (HGNPs) were used as drug carriers, and in order to improve the targeting ability of HGNPs to a lung tumor site, polyoxyethylene sorbitol oleate (PSO) was chosen here as a target ligand since it can be specifically recognized by the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor which is usually over expressed on A549 lung cancer cells. In this way, a PSO-modified doxorubicin-loaded HGNP drug delivery system (PSO-HGNPs-DOX) was constructed and its physicochemical properties, photothermal conversion ability, and drug release of PSO-HGNPs-DOX was investigated. Further, the effects of triple combination therapy, the intracellular uptake, and the ability to escape macrophage phagocytosis of PSO-HGNPs-DOX were also studied using A549 cells in vitro. In addition, an in vivo mouse model was also used to study the targeting of PSO-HGNPs-DOX to lung cancer. PSO-HGNPs-DOX demonstrated a good triple therapeutic effect for lung cancer (A549 cell viability was only 10% at 500 μM) by LDL receptor mediated endocytosis and was able to escape macrophage phagocytosis to enhance its accumulation at the target site. Therefore, PSO-HGNPs-DOX is a novel, safe, promising, and targeted drug carrier designed for triple combination lung cancer therapy which should be further studied for such applications.